Assalamu Alaikum
All those examples about protests done by believers of prophetic era were of individual magnitude than of collective magnitude. Also, all those protests was conducted directly in front of the ruler as a means of voicing their disagreements rather than showcasing the strength of protesters to to overthrow the ruler or make any huddles in front of him and also, those was not done on the roads or streets or in front of buildings or in front of flag posts or squares.

An evil act done whether by an individual or a ruler can be opposed by any individual Muslims as per his capacity(voicing, going out from there (if it is national issue, a Muslim can go to another country also-Hijrah), or staying there itself in silence hating the act by mind- these are the options available) in front of the evil doer in a way as the law of the place permits and in way Islam permits. But, if the individual Muslim is not capable to oppose himself, inviting others to gather to collectively oppose the evil act is not prescribed. However if the evil act was done publically and had a public impact and the public came out together as individuals and it happened to be like a group forming automatically and they all peacefully and calmly voiced against the evil act in front of the evil doer is right and ok as long as there happened not any incidents of acts which nullified or ignored righteous Islamic behaviours and actions. Even if such a gathering was formed without a prior preparation or invitations, using that first gathering to form a group against the ruler on a later stage is not prescribed or demonstrated and so cannot be done.
Such protests (voicing of disagreement on an evil doing or evil command) of individual magnitude was not in the sense of waging a war or group protest against the ruler or trying to overthrow rulers.

If we take the example of Prophet (saw) at his fist ten years of Makkah life prior going to Madinah, that was the time they were subjected by Kuffars to oppressions of any kind and magnitude, but the prophet and companions never tried to run a public protest or tried to persuade any one against the leaders of the Kuffars and their administration.
As per Quran, Firon is noted as the one who was so cruel to his own people and he is the one who calimed himself as the GOD and commanded all his people to obay his rules and command and worship none other than him. Moosa (as) was send by Allha to the people Firon, Allah never asked the prophet to wage a war or protest against Firon gathering people on the streets or squares. But Allah commanded Moosa (as) to go to Firon with his brother companion themselves alone and directly speak with Firon (the ruler) to refrain from his cruel command and rules. The prophet was then invited by Foron for a public gathering to test their capabilities and with Allah’s help, Moosa (as) become successful. It was the ruler who called for a public gathering and not the messenger.
There are numerous examples in Quran and Sunna to see that the oppressed were never allowed to take on public demonstrations and protests to oppose a ruler or king, rather they were asked to be patient and just in silence and go along with practicing deeds and ibadaa’ for a success in the hereafter.

It should be noted that winning in this world by Muslims in front of the kuffars or bad rulers against their evil doing is not a must, but winning in the hereafter(aqirah) by administering good deeds of worship and acts that keep peace and harmony are most important.
We don’t have to be so much worried about oppressed people(Muslims) and their hardships and wage protests against oppressors, as such people(Muslims) if they are in good faith and sprits will be in peace and harmony in Jannath.

Muslims if they are oppressed by non Muslims or bad Muslim rulers may face hardships in this world but they will win in the Aqirath. Winning in the Aqirath is more important than winning this world. Of course we have to be in solidarity with oppressed Muslim brothers and sisters, which can be done through prayers to Allah or asking Muslim rulers to communicate with oppressors or asking our leaders to speak or write to such oppressors or have peaceful dialogue with them directly. If such acts are not gaining anything, we don’t have be so much worried about it as Allah is overseeing all acts of oppressors and He is the One Who is capable enough to punish them as appropriate, may be in this world, if not, in the hereafter for sure.

I have seen that some of the brothers have given examples of protests that gained results to prove that we could also do so. An act can bring result in this world or not is not the key to decide that act can be done or not by a Muslim. An act can bring the results in the hereafter or not, should be the key for a Muslim to decide whether to do such acts or not. And who will decide which act will bring result in the hereafter? It can be said only by Allah and His messengers and be demonstrated by the messengers and their companions as revealed in Quran and Sunnah.
The aim and the way to the aim are both important in Islam. The aim is the intended result (and the intended result should always be the reward in aqirath) and the way is the path as shown by Prophet and his beloved followers. Both should be as prescribed and as demonstrated rather than what we can interpret and prove. The need of the situation will not justify an act as long as the act is done as per the prescribed intend and in a way it should be done as prescribed.

Regarding the narration: Abu Bakr As-Siddique (ra) said ‘ So long as I obey Allah and his messenger, then follow me, if I do not or if I err, then do not follow me”: it is clear that he is telling only here not follow him if he is in err. He is not asking the public to protest or wage war against him! Not following a command of a ruler that is against the commands of Allah and his messenger is by not doing it in one’s own life. No need to protest to be able to not follow.
Regarding “Battle of the Camel”, it is understood that all of them were Muslims and the umma was divided into two groups under two leaders and the leaders opposed each other. In the case of that war (not a public protest), both groups were just obeying their leaders rather than protesting against their own leaders.

Words such as ‘resist’’oppose’’forbid’’disobay’etc used while urging us to stand against bad doings of leaders, kings or people and our demonstrations of the resistance, opposition, forbidding or disobeying should also be as per examples from messenger of Allah. It should not be as we think or like or as we interpret and find a way!
One person wrote that “ none of us can take barack obama by the hand and advise him”. Practical difficulty in following a sunnah should not force or allow us in finding other ways. The ways what is enjoined by Allah and His messenger only is applicable to us, if practically it is not possible, we don’t have to do it as Allah will not question us as He said that what we can do with our normal capability only needs to be done at any situation.
Regarding what a brother wrote: “Remember the incident when Umar ibn Khattab came to give the Khutbah, asking the people to ‘listen and obey’, and someone (Salman al Farisi, I believe) stood and said that ‘we will not listen and we will not obey’, since it seemed that Umar had taken two pieces of cloth while giving only one piece to others.
Or the incident where Umar ibn Khattab asked the people what they would do if he were to deviate from the truth and a man stood and basically said that we will fix you with our swords?”
In this incident, there not happened any protest by Muslim groups but it was an individual who was questioning the leader directly in front of him, which is allowed. We are talking about protests done against rulers or leaders or a nation in the form of groups shouting slogans and as means of showing off the strength and willpower,or giving a clear message or disobaying them, that too not in front of them.

It can be summarised that protesting and evil act in front of the doer in an individual magnitude is allowed. But protesting collectively on the roads, streets or squares to oppose a leader or as a means of showing-off of anger/strength display /disobedience/or as a request are not allowed as those are having no any evidence in Islam.
Allah knows Best

Allahu Akbar!

And the Vietnam Protest!

“A tyrant and the one who helps an oppressor as well as the one who is pleased with such injustice all the three are accomplices in the sin”–Muhammad al-Baqir (RAA)

I must say I am impressed with the beautiful manners with which you two argue. Agree to disagree and that’s fine. Hats off!

Are you protesting the fatwa on protests?

Apologies for the sarcasm, but sometimes a silly argument needs to be taken to the end, to illustrate how it cannot possibly be a correct interpretation.