Two Years ago
Two years ago, I remember watching the coverage of Ukraine when we knew something was about to happen. The biggest piece of evidence war was on the horizon was the Blood bags being moved to the border with Ukraine as part of their “training exercise." I remember looking at a notification on my phone and running to power on the TV as if to see if it was real. War had come for Ukraine. That feels so far away now. I would not sleep that night as the world watched the kick-off of the largest war in Europe since World War II. And while I was safe in my U.S. home, the people who I now consider my close friends would wake up to the dark reality that war had come for them.
The Russians, led by Vladimir Putin, had declared a “Special Military Operation” that would only take three days to reach Kyiv. Now in the third year of their three-day "Operation,” we see the bravery, sacrifice, and sheer determination of the Ukrainian people to fight for one another, their democracy, and all of Europe. The world has witnessed the devastation of Miropol, the battle of Kyiv, the Bucha massacre, the Kharkiv counter-offensive, the mass grave of Izyum, the recapture of Kherson, the siege of Bakhmut, and most recently, the fall of Avdiivka.
While this rally memorialized the two years of full-scale invasion inflicted onto Ukraine since 2022, I would be doing a disservice to not remind you that this war has been happening for a decade now. The Russians and their proxy authorities in Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk have waged war against Ukraine since 2014.
The world failed to act at that time and chose appeasement for the Russians, who at that time had gotten away with this before in Moldova and Georgia. The United States failed to uphold its treaty-bound commitments as written in the Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed “independence, sovereignty, and the existing borders of Ukraine.”
Today, the United States is once again failing on its duty.
UN Document: The Budapest Memorandum
The Reality of today
The consequences of U.S. Republicans denying aid to Ukraine have already started to show on the frontlines of Ukraine. I mentioned the fall of Avdiivka, a city that had been held for a decade since its recapture from Russian separatist forces in 2014. While it is impossible to know if the Ukrainians would have successfully held the city even with the dripfed U.S. aid packages, one thing is for sure: They withdrew from the city in part due to ammo shortages.
The entire frontline of Ukraine is currently being attacked and pushed as the Russians are using the shortage of ammo to try a major breakthrough. European nations are doing what they can; however, there is no immediate replacement for U.S. aid, and the majority of elected Republicans show an unwillingness to stop playing politics with global security.
The Rally
I know that for myself, coming into the rally, I had been disheartened by the past few months of worried messages from my Ukrainian friends, congressional inaction, and the growing presence of Russian propaganda being regurgitated by those without a clue. That feeling changed when I approached the Lincoln Monument. Arriving an hour before the event, I could already see many people there with Ukrainian flags, signs, and Yellow and Blue standing out bright on the otherwise drab day. Those meeting up with friends for the event happily ran to hug each other in anticipation, smiles gracing the faces of people sharing in the same amazement I felt, and the event organizers setting up our backdrop. The speakers backdrop would be The Reflection Pool, Washington Monument, and Capitol Building, the very same in which the Republican senators and congressmen have denied aid to Ukraine for nearly six months as of writing. The message wanting to be sent was clear: Arm Ukraine, now!
As the next hour passed, I saw the stairs leading down to the reflection pool filled with supporters of Ukraine. Yellow and blue were draped over the shoulders of the crowd, and flags were raised high in the sky to be met with the American flag in a show of solidarity. Something that the majority of Americans still want.
I found many political signs dotted the landscape of people as I went around shaking hands and speaking with those present. From the NAFO fellas, those American-Ukraine servicemen, one sign demanding the release of the Defenders of Chornobly, and those of Russian birth showing their solidarity, "I am Russian, and I stand with Ukraine."
I would even meet up with members of the press who have reported from Ukraine, like Andrew Mercado and Dylan Burns. Together, Dylan and I would venture around the perimeter for any sign of a counter-protest. And to our shock we would find no one. Not one person out of this massive crowd was here to let their voice be heard against Ukraine. Dylan and I joked that we were a little disappointed to not find a group to scream at on this day.
In fact, Dylan would tell me that his coverage of the prior year's “Rage against the War Machine” rally not only had fewer people than the crowd gathered today but that they failed to even get funding for an event this year.
It is easy to see why there were no counter-protesters there. The energy of the event was unmatched. Seeing this crowd cheer on and be engaged with aid to Ukraine was frankly heartwarming. Seeing people from all walks of life coming together to make a sea of people demanding justice could raise the spirits of anyone. In fact, everyone there knew what is at stake, and they wanted their voices heard. I would send my Ukrainian friends simple iPhone photos from the event as if to say, “See! Not all hope is lost; the people still stand with you!” While also knowing that is rather hollow when our government stands to screw them over.
The March
Following the rally, we were told that a march was set to happen. I knew of the march ahead of time, but not to where our destination would be: the Russian consulate just up the road from the Whitehouse. With the streets cleared, we marched through the heart of Washington, D.C.. Chants echoed throughout the crowd, nearly as loud as the patriotic Ukrainian folk-pop songs that have become synonymous with my time in the country.
Demands for arming Ukraine, for Russia to immediately leave internationally recognized Ukrainian land, and the question “How many civilians will it take?” blared through the streets of D.C. Those old and young marched together, waving the Ukrainian flag, as we approached the White House. We would soon encounter a small protest in front of the White House by a pro-Palestinian group. Despite what some online would have you believe, myself and many others witnessed both groups cheering each other on! Those on the Palestinian side were shaking hands with protesters marching, and vice versa. It should be noted that Ukraine is one of the few countries in Europe to recognize the state of Palestine.
Myself and Dylan were with the very first group to arrive at the Russian consulate. Approaching, we were heralded in with the classic chant of Maidan: "Putin – khuylo!” or “Putin - Dickhead!” The frustration of the crowd would be unleashed here, with a clear target. A digital projection of the Ukrainian trident would cover the front of the building as the chants would ramp up. I saw no movement from the covered windows of the consulate, but I am sure of one thing. Any true Russian patriot hiding away inside would not be having a good evening.
The impassioned cries of the stolen children of Ukraine to be returned and the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem would leave tension and emotion in the air as thick as the mud. A final emotionally charged chant was led by the woman who had led the charge all throughout D.C. Her voice was clearly strained with emotion from the day and dripping with the desire to make sure their message penetrated the walls of the consulate: “You will burn in Hell!”