By Laurel Zmolek-Smith, Iowa native in Sofia, Bulgaria
I am an Iowan living and working in Sofia, Bulgaria. In recent weeks, Bulgarians have taken part in mass, peaceful protests calling for the resignation of a deeply corrupt government. They succeeded. And what stands out most is not just the size of the protests, but their character.
A strong Gen Z presence has helped drive the movement, but these demonstrations have brought together people from many different political camps. These are people who do not agree on everything, some who even differ wildly on many points, but who agree on one essential: enough is enough. They believe they deserve better than lies, corruption, and the erosion of democratic norms.
What may surprise outsiders is that these protests are not fueled only by anger. There is also a great deal of joy. Music, humor, handmade signs, dancing, and a strong sense of community are everywhere. People come with friends, children, and grandparents. There is frustration, but there is also hope and pride in standing together.
The United States is very different from Bulgaria in many ways. It is much larger, which makes coordination and sustained street protests more difficult. But Bulgaria is also a country often described as politically resigned or slow to change. And yet people showed up, night after night. Peaceful, determined, and even joyful.
If they can do it, so can we.
We do not need to agree on everything to agree on a few basic principles. Truth matters. Democratic rules matter. Peace and a rules-based world order matter. Corruption, wherever it exists, must be challenged.
Taking to the streets will not look the same everywhere in the United States. But participation, visibility, and collective pressure matter in every context. Silence and resignation only help those who abuse power.
The time is now. We can take heart and take lessons from the Bulgarians, who were told change was impossible and proved otherwise.
