I mean protests and marches equivalent to our modern day Million Man March, The Monday Demonstrations (Berlin Wall), Gay Rights, Anti-War, etc, but from ancient times.
Most of the history I learned focused on the last couple centuries, and skimmed over ancient times.
Secessio Plebis (withdrawal of the Plebs) was a form of protest that occurred several times during the Roman Republic, it entailed large portions of the Plebeian class (commoners) leaving the city and the Patricians (ruling families) to fend for themselves.
Since the plebeians were the shopkeepers and workshop owners, their secession meant near enough all trade and commerce within the city stopped dead in its tracks, food stopped being produced and labour and construction came to a halt.
As for how they were received, the ruling families of Rome understood that a city could not function without a majority of its population and although there may have been some resentment towards the plebeians, there was usually a compromise given up by the ruling families through the powers of the senate: for example the first recorded secession in 449BC led to the creation of the tribune of the Plebs, the first government position in the republic to be held by the Plebs.
if you would like to read more about such a subject, I would suggest:
•Cornell, T.J., "The Beginnings of Rome", Routledge, (1995)
And
•The Growth of Plebeian Privilege in Rome', The English Historical Review No. II (April 1886)