Anyway what I mean is, was this guy an influential part of the movement or protests?

Just sounds to me like he was suicidal and like some suicidal people are terrified of just quietly killing themselves in their bedroom and getting it over with. They gotta go out with a bang. Delusions of grandure is a classic trait and he's Clearly he's insane.

That he found a "cause" to justify his suicide mission is not unique. Most mass shooters latch on to a higher calling of some sort.

I understand the media and political right will spin but the counter spin is simple: a mentally derranged ex-convict with a disdain for authority decided to end his life today.
He is not the first cop-killer. Hashtags did not weave insane killers out of thin air. America has a long history of guys like this that predates social media.