It might be a small group, but believe me most people on the left thorougly approve of their actions. When I get on the comments sections of news articles concerning violent attacks of leftists on conservative speakers and crowds, the libs in the comments sections invariably (and unbelievably) accuse the conservatives of causing the violence.
Even after me or other conservative commenters on the forum point out to the libs that conservatives don't go to lib/leftist rallies and attack the speaker and the audience, they still fail to acknowledge their group's guilt.
Basically, the violent libs are doing what many inert libs wish they could do....physically stop the free expression of speech by conservatives. They might not be throwing the actual rocks or beating the people, but they sure approve of it.
It is sixties redux in many ways.
There are a few (professional) loudmouths who gin up trouble that goes beyond simple protest and expressing opinion. Almost every riot of that era was incited by a handful of competent agitators, doubtlessly helped by other paid agitators scattered through the crowd to give the impression of solidarity and to pump up the rest in an emotional rush.
I would not be surprised to find that when one strips away the useful idiots and the trendy people there to feel relevant or get media face time as being "caring" about whatever cause, there are a handful of professionals at the root of all these protests, promoted by the media, with a few thousand at most other paid agitators to pump up the useful idiots and "true believers" so the media can promote that and the backers can influence policy.
It is what makes "community organizer" a real job title; every protest a production.
Maybe when daddy told them to 'get a job' he should have been more specific.