It remains to be seen whether new protests will emerge against Trump's re-election.

Public reaction to Trump's victory has so far been relatively calm, without the massive demonstrations that followed his first victory in the 2016 presidential election.

Supporters point out that this lackluster response isn't necessarily because of repressive law enforcement tactics — or at least not just because of them.

Free speech advocate Gibbons noted that the 2020 George Floyd protests, which followed the J20 indictments, grew in intensity and size despite thousands of people being tear-gassed and arrested.

Instead, he said there would be elements of "protest fatigue" and a "feeling of helplessness" following Trump's victory in the 2024 election.

"We're seeing a decrease in protests," Gibbons said. "But I'm reluctant to say that the lack of protests is because people are cold."

He noted that some of Trump's critics are frustrated with current President Joe Biden's administration, particularly his support for Israel's devastating war on Gaza.

“It feels like people are really exhausted from the protests outside of Gaza,” Gibbons said, adding that even protests against Israel’s war had declined after hundreds of people were arrested at campus protests last year. .

Gibbons observed that other government leaders, including those at the state and local levels, have also passed laws to discourage or punish protests.

For example, a 2021 Republican-led law in Florida states that "protesters who knowingly engage in violent public disorder involving an assembly of three or more people" could be charged with a third-degree felony.

Supporters argued the law could be used to pursue "collective responsibility" charges in court, and in 2024, the Florida Supreme Court ultimately ruled that peaceful protesters could not be charged under the law.

“Starting with the inauguration of Donald Trump and continuing all the way to police cities, there has been a sustained pattern of federal, state and local crackdowns on dissent designed to prevent people from protesting,” Gibbons said.

Ruggs also observed that many protesters seem to have lost steam this election cycle.

But she believes prosecutions like hers send a message that prevents people from exercising one of their most basic rights: the right to protest.

"If you're a young teenager, or for whatever reason, have never protested anything before, and you keep reading about 'protesters pepper spraying' on the news. Protesters are being charged with felonies for protesting. Protesters were beaten with batons, 'maybe it's not the first time you go out and protest,'" Rajesh said.

"Maybe you tell your kids not to protest because it's too dangerous."