Further, the idea that the government should be able to kill a person, then pepper spray people protesting that, and we should just lay down and take it is the very definition of POA
Wow, talk about taking things COMPLETELY out of context.
When you live in a civil society, there are certain rules put in place that you are expected to live by. When you don't, society employs law enforcement to deal with you.
In the cases you allude too, said individuals were reported to have violated the rules that society agreed to live within. In so doing, they grabbed the attention of law enforcement that is charged with enforcing those laws.
When the person reportedly breaking those laws is confronted by LEO's, they have a choice. Comply with the LEO's instructions or decide to fight them. Being as in this country, we allow LEO's to carry lethal force, it is not a smart move by the suspect, to decide to fight. Even then, in almost all cases, the LEO's attempted to subdue the suspect using non-lethal force. However, when the suspect gained the upper hand and put the LEO's life in danger, the LEO resorted to lethal force.
The question here is why do ignore the responsibility of the suspect to follow the law and comply with the LEO's instructions?
As to the allegation of pepper spray, it was not used until the "protesters" turned violent and disregarded law orders by LEO's. You know, like burning down the neighborhood after looting it.