Flag-wavers find copper attending upheavals (10)

'flag-wavers' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'copper attending upheavals' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'copper' could be 'cop' (synonyms) and 'cop' is located in the answer.
'attending' could be 'at' (e.g. at school means attending school) and 'at' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'riots' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'find' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?