He paid the fine 'under protest'. [=he paid the fine although he objected to it]
The students launched/held/staged a 'protest' against the tuition increase.
She told him to go to bed despite his 'protests' that he wasn't tired.
(..) The whole world's gonna see me beating on a little man who's humping my leg. Peter Jackson, you've got a lot to answer for. No, Mark Hadlow enjoyed it. He can protest all he likes. And protest he will. But Mark Hadlow, you know, I really did it for Mark. I did it for Mark's benefit. (..)2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey