In reality, a protest largely succeeded (2,2,2)
I believe the answer is:
as it is
'in reality' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a protest largely succeeded' is the wordplay.
'protest' becomes 'sit-in' (sit-in is a type of non-violent protest).
'largely' means to remove the last letter (most but not all of the letters).
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'sitin' with its final letter taken away is 'siti'.
'a'+'siti'+'s'='AS IT IS'
(Other definitions for as it is that I've seen before include "Like now" , "In the present circumstances" , "In current circumstances, the way things are" , "Actual state of affairs, often contrary to expectations" , "true to life" .)