Also, people participate in protests because they feel need to do something and are willing to take the risk. It is the "I can't stay passive anymore" statement and feeling at large.
And there were succesfull protests. That is how communism ended. That is how Ukraine protests kept it democracy back in 2014 (rather then allowing it to become Belurussia). And Iran had succesfull revolution too, through that one brought religious dictatorship.
Whoa, wait a minute. Where?
Communism in Europe imploded on itself because of western pressure, weakened Soviet Union and dysfunctional economy. Protests were just a manifestation.
he is not doing anything illegal, he just wants a better life for everybody including the guys who jailed him and their children. His best bet is that some of those guys would understand his motivations and help him.
Now he probably does not fully understand the regime motivation and how the police state lives in a paranoia. Not because he's stupid, because sometimes the only way out of a situation is to trust your opponent with your own life. Sometimes you do what your guts tell you to do