Any real movement is, by definition, something that starts (nothing is eternal). Therefor there was both a time where the movement did not exist, and an early period where it was small and vulnerable.

During that small and vulnerable period, if someone were to thoroughly embarrass that movement, it might indeed be stillborn. No one joins a movement that seems foolish. And while it might be true that a movement’s positive qualities outweighs the shame of its fools, there must also be a period where those positive qualities haven’t manifested or haven’t been revealed.

It remains to be seen if this is true of this particular movement. Maybe it grew past that vulnerable period weeks or months ago. But even if it has, then it has still only been weeks and months (and not decades), and so you might forgive people for making the mistake of believing this one has been smothered in the crib.