This was never a protest, it was a blockade. If they were actually protesting public opinion wouldn’t have turned on them.
Just because the corporate-owned media reports their cause in a negative light, doesn't mean public opinion has turned on them. In fact people were lining the streets as they made their way to Ottawa.
I think you're right about one thing though. Opinion hasn't "turned" on them because it was never with them in the first place.