Code that helped end Apartheid

Nelson Mandela was on the US terrorist watch list until 2008.

Also the fact that so many in the US claim they remember he died in prison should say something about the media landscape.

From the European perspective I recall the concerts that were held to free him and then also the concert that was held after he was free. Simple Minds even made a famous song for it [1]. I don't know if those concets were a big show in the US, we only had a few TV stations and this was always a big thing.

[1] https://youtu.be/xfk13uUuD8Q

Yes, and also the UK just denied Nelson Mandela's grandson access to the UK, because of his views on modern day apartheid.

As far as the European vs. US on the current situation - Euro countries are denying entry to journalists and doctors who are EU citizens just because they are speaking about the atrocities they have seen on the ground.

While Euro countries tend to be a tiny bit better than the US on the issues, they are generally much more restrictive in terms of protected speech.

For example, a former Greek finance minister was banned from the Schengen area (which includes Greece) by Germany, and not because the Greek economy is terrible.

You say "Euro countries" but let's be clear - it's only Germany.