I have to disagree that inconveniencing the general public is helpful to a cause. If they agree with your cause they won't see it as an inconvenience anyway, if they aren't aware of it or disagree with it, then you are only making things worse for your cause.

Most things people protest on they are protesting because it is bigger than the general public can make a difference to. So the leaders are the ones they are needing to inconvenience, rather than the general public.