“These proliferating organizations can always pony up a dozen people to rally on courthouse steps,”
They have absolutely no grass-roots support. These organizations just force their overworked, underpaid employees to get on the bus and cheer on cue to whatever foolishness the speakers serve up. If each of the forced rent-a-crowd brings a few family members you have a turnout such as you see here. Totally a farce.
Judging from the dismal attendance, more than a few of those employees said "No" to going.