They are coming down hard on protestors because the powers the be are scared and weak. They are stretched thin and are incompetent. They lost Vietnam, they lost the Middle East, they lost Cuba, they lost North Korea, they lost Ukraine and they'll eventually lose the world.
You are currently in the claws of the beast and the beast is dying. You will be free of it's clutches, keep biting its hands. It's squeezing you because your bites hurt it. Do not give up.
If you ever feel disheartened, just zoom out and look at the world as a trajectory. Study the critical flaws in Capitalism, view the cracks in Imperialism, and look to see which way the winds are blowing. Read theory, organize. Within the crumbling walls of an Imperialist state, every tool of the Bourgeoisie will be employed to retain power. Do not let them.
We can and we will do this, comrades!