Signalling defiance for deterrence is expected, but will you personally really risk your life and be jailed or otherwise punished, merely to make a public statement of protest - the most likely outcome?

Yes. It might be irrational - I might change my mind later. But in my opinion, if your children are being tortured, abused, raped, etc., then you do whatever you can to try to stop it, even risking your life. And knowing that parents really do say "Over my dead body" (with an implied "Over your dead body first") when it comes to their children's safety, really does make their children safer.