Yep, Mass resistance against their effort to “control the situation” would turn into a “well, that didn’t work” situation. Because once it is allowed to work and be successful, it will become the example and norm across the country.
That, to me, is the choice Northam faces today. Does he really want the TV cameras to televise a big empty field and tens off thousands of armed people clogging up downtwon streets? Or take down the corral and let things proceed as planned in an orderly fashion.