As a rule, the police are tools of the state. If the state treats protest as treason, the police will treat protesters as traitors.

The reason I am concerned is that, over the past decade or so, protest has become routinely treated as treason. As someone who believes in the old saw — I may disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it, (no quotes, since I don't think I have it exactly right) — I get a lot more concerned when the police are breaking heads and protesters are kept in special "protest zones", than when a few dozen (or even a few hundred) "anarchists" are breaking windows.

It frightens me how quick people are to give up their liberties if they don't feel they are directly involved.