But if you are out of work, claiming benefits you can be a professional protester (not all I know but many go to virtually all protests, no matter what the subject)
I went to a massive CND rally in London back in 1982 I think it was. MY student union was laying on free buses so for most of us it was a cheap day out in London.
In my defence though I was, and remain, in favour of nuclear disarmament.