It should be 'getting back home'. And the answer is the first one. Easier is a comparative - you need something to compare it to if you are going to use this. If you say 'getting back home won't be easier', the obvious question in the listener's mind is - easier than what? But here you are saying that because of A (the protest), B will occur so no comparative is required.

as there is a protest today, GETTING back home won't be EASY

Greetings, Easier is the comparative degree of easy and here we are not comparing anything. So the sentence will be- 1. Getting back home won't be easy. Hope it helps Smiles MANTRA DEEPIKA