Slightly off topic, but I'm not sure where else to put this.

If a peaceful demonstration "intensifies," what exactly does that mean? Doesn't it mean that a peaceful demonstration became MORE peaceful?

Quote
Protesters in California set fire to a courthouse, damaged a police station and assaulted officers after a peaceful demonstration intensified. https://t.co/fUZTABUM21

— ABC News (@ABC) July 26, 2020


Is it just me, or is this a brand new bit of English terminology?

Onward and upward,
airforce