I've seen the string pullers use the "take to the streets" message to manipulate the populace into doing its bidding as well.

Personally, I would tend to trust a movement that emerges more or less naturally on its own and that spreads by example more than I would trust one that is instigated by people who are goading others into action. And I think such a movement will meet less resistance and will be much less susceptible to any kind of backlash.