Any publicity is good publicity, as the current US president has demonstrated.
This, of course, is the old Hollywood myth. Trump hasn't demonstrated it at all yet - wait and see if he gets a second term.
You could also try repeating that old myth to Julian Knight and Martin Bryant for example - they got all the publicity possible, and are in the jug for life.
You've got to give them credit for standing up for what they believe in, I reckon most of the soapbox orators here wouldn't have the courage to do the same. As far as causes go, it's pretty benign.
No problem there; protest all you like.
People have a right to protest why should these fools be any different.
Of course they do, but they do not have the right to disrupt a city. They inconvenienced thousands, blocked public transport and emergency vehicles without any prior warning and, by their own admission, don't care. I would not want to be in an ambulance on St Kilda Road trying to get to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with these ratbags blocking the way. Many groups hold protest rallies and let the authorities know in advance, so suitable arrangements can be made. This gang could do the same.