Seattleites rally in support of Ukraine
Seattleites woke up to ongoing news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. By Thursday night, there were demonstrations scattered across the city.
On the heels of an afternoon rally at the University of Washington, hundreds of people gathered Thursday night at the base of the Space Needle. The demonstration was protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The crowd was a mix of Ukrainians and Russians. They flew the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag and chanted together. Protesters were pouring into the nearby street. Cars passing honked in solidarity.
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“Now I know we’re going to stand until the last person will die in Ukraine," said Okana, a Ukrainian who moved to the Northwest five years ago. "We’re going to do everything we can. This is our home, were not going anywhere. We’ll do everything we to support all the Ukrainians in Ukraine from this side as much as we can."
Okana's whole family is still in Ukraine. She said half of them are now in shelters due to fighting nearby. She’s had trouble sleeping since the invasion began.
Zelen-Sova Maria is Russian. She moved to the Seattle area last summer. She came to the Space Needle to protest the invasion.
“I’m ashamed," she said. "I don't want to be a citizen of an aggressor country. I want to live in peace with other people all over the world.”
Inna, from the Donetsk region, of Ukraine, immigrated to the United States in 2014 when fighting broke out with pro-Russian separatists in that region. She says she believes not all Russians want war with Ukraine.
“I do not put equal sign between Russian people and Russian tyranny man Putin," she said.
