On Thursday afternoon, hundreds of members of L.A.’s Ukrainian community and activists rallied outside the United States federal building in Westwood, standing in support of their home nation of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion early Thursday morning.
Protestors held signs with handpainted messages saying, “Stand with Ukraine,” “Russia go home,” and “I’m ashamed that I’m Russian, stand with Ukraine.''
Maksim Ksenjak, who was present, told L.A. TACO, “Putin perceives the former Soviet space as still something that belongs to him.” Ksenjak has been living in the United States for 25 years but his parents and grandparents still reside in Ukraine.
“For Ukraine, it’s a war for survival…We are headstrong and passionate people, if we see something wrong we will be fighting together. If we can have an opportunity to fight to make our lives better—we will.”
Protestors in attendance weren’t just from the Los Angeles area, Emily Kuchurivski drove in from Riverside, California. “We’ve been on the phone with cousins, grandparents, family members back home and it just really hits close to home,” said Kuchurivski. “We recognize the people from our country are mourning and we want to stand in support with them and the people of Ukraine.”
All photos by Mike Ojo for L.A. TACO.
