BOSTON — Hours after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, up to 200 Eastern European immigrants, many of them from Ukraine, held a “Stand With Ukraine” rally on the steps of the State House in Boston.
“My city is currently being bombarded by Russian troops. My parents are in their house. And many people are in the subway, hiding,” Harvard student Yegor Tverdokhlieov told Boston 25 News.
The rally was quickly organized, with many supporters still in shock over what is happening in Ukraine.
“My little one, she cried this morning because she was afraid, she’s never going to see her grandparents,” Olga Ivaniv said.
“We all thought it was a bluff. We thought he has his own agenda and he is trying to pressure the world by threatening. But, he’s a crazy man. You never know what can happen,” said Khyrstyna Masyra.
Ukraine supporters said they hope President Biden’s sanctions will work against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression, but they are concerned about recent European history repeating itself.
“We want to be part of the West. We want to have democracy. We want to have freedom. Free markets. Freedom for our people. And the good quality of life. Not what Putin represents. Evil,” said Jan Kryza, a Harvard University student from Poland.