Will we protect our freedom of expression?

If the United States (US) government could successfully prosecute Julian Assange for exercising his right of freedom of expression, how is the US different from a dictatorship? Click on the following link to understand what is at stake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhAVw1boHC0&t=2542s

The 99% of us are the only ones who could.