If people don't like their country why don't they leave it?
If people are so against what the country they live in is doing or believes in why don't they just relocate and change their citizenship to one which supports their values the way that they want (rather than trying to oppress the others in their current country to follow their ways)? For a smaller extent example - I did not like the tax rate nor the weather in the state I lived in so I moved...
The family idea is interesting, but if the new country gives you better opportunity and life, as you would have more opportunities, potentially creating the ability to travel (see your family) or even eventually help bringing them from the country once you are established. Especially considering the technology these days, I have been 5,000 Miles from my family for over 6 years now, yet I'm able to talk to them once a week+ and have visited a few times.
The feeling country connection makes sense too. However if a husband beats his wife I would assume she would want a divorce, no matter the connection - the inability to change him could kill her. Eventually it would be needed to find the strenght to leave. ---- A few thousand can't change millions and will really only end up suffering in the end/ even if it's years later. Also if they do succeed in enforcing an unpopular vote the rest will either not listen or just fight back anyway.