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.
(..) they're not gonna get to us. So we've got to be prepared to be here for a while. Chief said it was on the news back home. Something about street protests. Anti-Islamic films. We didn't hear any protests. It was reported in the news, buddy. (..)2016 13 Hours