Hundreds gather in Richland for anti-war, pro-Ukraine demonstration
Irina Koval stood along George Washington Way clad in a traditional shawl and flower headpiece.
Cars and trucks blared their horns as she and a relative, Oksana Makarets, held the Ukrainian flag and a sign reading, “Pray For Ukraine.”
They and others cheered as cars pass. The mood was solemn, but they were hopeful.
“We’re praying. Everybody is praying for this war to stop,” said Makarets, 36, of Pasco.
About 300 Tri-Citians gathered Tuesday afternoon at John Dam Plaza for a rush-hour demonstration in support of Ukraine and against the war.
Some were draped in the Ukrainian national flag and its colors. Others, including Mike Anderson, simply waved flags.
“I think it’s absolutely atrocious what’s going on out there. And I hope Ukraine is Putin’s Waterloo,” said Anderson, 62, of Kennewick.
Many who showed up were either native Ukrainian or have relatives currently living in the embattled country.
Last Thursday, the Kremlin launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine, starting first with missile and artillery attacks on cities along the country’s eastern flank. The U.S. and many other countries have denounced Russia’s actions as a power grab.
The incident has sparked a mass exodus in the country, with an estimated 874,000 having fled the country since last week, the Associated Press reported Wednesday morning. That number is likely to surpass 1 million this week.
“These people clearly show they understand the real root of the problem. They know the truth,” said Vasiliy Parkhotyuk, 62, of Pasco, said about the Richland demonstration.
Parkhotyuk is the founder of Hungry Generation church in Pasco. He came to the U.S. about 22 years ago as his family feared persecution for their anti-communist views. His family lived in the northwest city of Lutsk.
At least 5,000 Ukrainians live in the Tri-Cities, he estimated.
Nelia Polinko, 28, of Richland, said she worries about her brother who still lives in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. People living there have had to deal with around-the-clock air raid sirens and bombings.
She said her brother goes to bed and wakes up to the sound of explosions every day. He told her he’s not sure he’ll wake up one of these days.
Olga Strand, 37, of Richland, was one of the organizers for the demonstration. Though she immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine about 12 years ago after meeting her husband, she fears for the safety of her mother and family who’re still back home.
“I’m stressed, I’m not eating, I’m not sleeping. My life is a nightmare right now, I want to wake up. I’m trying to hold on to myself,” she told the Herald. “I’m seriously stressing out about my whole family and country right now.”
Her days this past week have been filled with a great deal of prayer, checking the news and checking in with family.
“Life changed a lot the last six days,” she said.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
