The difference between Americans and Russians: the former protest, the latter remain silent out of fear

Comparisons between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, between the USA and Russia, have been made more and more often in recent months. Dictatorial grips, wars, a desire for territorial expansion, geopolitical influence are weighed in the balance. Against this background, at the end of last week in the United States of America, millions of people took to the streets again to protest against the excesses of the current president, Donald Trump. In Russia led by Vladimir Putin, people avoid such gestures of rebellion. The contrast is not only political, but deeply human, we have fear and the desire to preserve freedom, coercion and choice.

• America - "No Kings" rallies and mass mobilization

Last Saturday, millions of people participated in "No Kings” rallies, held in the US and several European cities, protesting the war in Iran and the policies promoted by President Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press. The focal point of the demonstrations was the state of Minnesota, especially the city of St. Paul, where hundreds of thousands of people gathered to express their opposition to anti-immigration policies and the actions of the federal agency ICE.

Artist Bruce Springsteen, the headliner of the event, sent a message with a strong civic charge, evoking community resistance and affirming that "this is still America.” The protests spread from large metropolises, such as New York City, to small towns like Driggs, including in conservative states, a sign of a mobilization that goes beyond classic ideological boundaries.

• Freedom to protest and its limits

Although most demonstrations were peaceful, there were incidents. In Los Angeles, police used tear gas, and in Denver, arrests were made after protesters blocked traffic. Official reactions were not long in coming. Representatives of the administration and the Republican Party have downplayed the scale of the protests, claiming that they are orchestrated by left-wing networks. However, the scale of the mobilization - thousands of actions and millions of participants - shows that, despite polarization, American society remains capable of collective reaction.

• Russia: the imposed silence

At the same time, in Vladimir Putin's Russia, such a scenario is hard to imagine. The opposition is systematically marginalized, the independent press is restricted, and protest can lead to arrest or worse. The case of Alexei Navalny, widely covered by media around the world, remains emblematic of the enormous cost of challenging power. In these circumstances, the absence of large-scale protests is not evidence of tacit acceptance, but the result of a climate of fear.

• Two societies, two types of responsibility

The images of America - crowds, banners, music, speeches - contrast sharply with the apparent calm in Russia. But this difference is not about the intrinsic courage of the people, but about the context in which they live. In an authoritarian regime, freedom of action is severely limited. In a democracy, it exists even if it is not always used. The "No Kings" protests show that, in the US, a significant part of society refuses to remain silent. At the same time, they also reveal internal divisions: not all Americans are protesting, and some support the contested policies.

• Global echo of discontent

Similar demonstrations have also taken place in Europe. In Rome, protesters have even criticized the government led by Giorgia Meloni. In London and Paris, the messages have targeted extremism, war, and identity politics. Thus, protests are no longer just an American phenomenon, but part of a global unrest.

The comparison between Russia and the United States cannot be made in simple terms. In Russia, silence is often imposed by fear. In America, silence, where it exists, is a choice. And the difference is essential. For while people living under an authoritarian regime are limited by serious consequences, citizens of a democracy are defined by the possibility of action. The large-scale protests in the United States show that this possibility has not disappeared, it just depends on how many are still willing to use it.