Ukrainian flag proudly flying on Michigan Avenue
Ukrainians Protest the Actions of the SBU
On September 22, 2010, Ukrainian-Americans gathered at a protest in Pioneer Plaza on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago to defend Ruslan Zabily and to express their concern over the policies of the regime of Ukraine’s President, Victor Yanukovych.
Organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division and supported by various greater Chicagoland Ukrainian organizations, the participants displayed signs calling for the removal of the Minister of Education, Tabachnyk, and the head of the Institute of National Memory, Soldatenko, and the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Khoroshkovsky. Other signs called for the government to stop falsifying Ukrainian history and tell the truth about Soviet/Russian crimes in Ukraine, for the President to acknowledge that the Holodomor of 1932-33 was an act of genocide, and for the government to keep Russian oppression out of Ukraine. There also were signs of support for OUN/UPA as freedom fighters, support for human and national rights, and support for Ruslan Zabily. Ruslan Zabily is a historian and director of the National Memorial “Prison at Lonsky” Museum in Lviv who has been the subject of repressive actions by the SBU in recent weeks.
Organization representatives included: Dr. Oles Strilchuk, President UCCA Illinois; Pavlo Bandriwsky, VP UCCA Illinois; Dr. Julian Kulas, President Heritage Foundation of First Security Bank; Oleh Muzyka, President Orange Wave Organization; Ihor Khudyk, VP Orange Wave; Dr. Nicholas Skyba, ODUM Illinois; Chrystya Wereszczak, President WADFFU National Executive; Nadiya Ilkiw, UCCA Illinois; Irka Wruskyj, WADFFU A. Horska; Ivan Pawlyk, President ODFFU Br. 8; Ivanka Bryan and Andrij Glubisz, CYM Chicago Executive Board; Eva Zelenko, UNWLA Br. 29.
WADFFU - Alla Horska viddil
Participants began the protest with a rousing rendition of the UPA classic - “Chervona Kalyna” and were then led by Fr. Mychajlo Melnyk of the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in prayer for the people and future of Ukraine, specifically asking for God’s guidance for the country’s leadership. Following were calls for action from Dr. Oles Strilchuk and Pavlo Bandriwsky of UCCA IL leadership which caught the interest of many passersby on busy Michigan Ave., who stopped to listen to the comprehensive lists of civil rights violations executed by the Kremlin-influenced Ukrainian president.
Druh Pavlo Bandriwsky - zastupnyk holovy - oseredok Chicago
Many American observers took note as the group marched along Michigan Avenue, chanting slogans such as: “Russia out of Ukraine” and “USA support Ukraine.” Pavlo Bandriwsky was interviewed on-air on WGN Radio 720 AM, where in spite of skepticism from those unfamiliar with the situation in Ukraine, he was able to bring clarity and light to the subject of revocation of civil rights and how Ukraine’s instability and Yanukovych’s decisions can and will affect the United States. After the radio stint, the crowd proceeded to NBC 5-TV, where crews filmed the protestors outside the television studio. Press packets were presented to the Chicago Tribune, Medill News Service and NBC 5- TV during the protest. Representatives of Chicago’s Ukrainian radio, television and newspaper community also covered the event.
The well-organized, high energy demonstration ended with a solemn version of the Ukrainian national hymn, as protestors and observers alike reflected on the repressive activities of the Yanukovych administration and prospective measures to be taken by Americans to defend human rights in Ukraine. The words of “Sche ne Vmerla Ukraina” were apropos given the current political climate in Ukraine and were felt deeply by those present, as their eyes glistened with hopeful tears.
The demonstration was held in solidarity with a protest on the same day in New York City at the Ukrainian Mission to the United Nations and a vigil in Ottawa at the Ukrainian Embassy to bring international attention during President Yanukovych’s visit to the UN. It also was a further public action of support for the national democratic forces in Ukraine, similar to rallies and demonstrations held throughout the Diaspora in recent months, including in the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, and Germany and other countries in Europe.
Druzhynnyky and "photo of the month" in October Ukrainian weekly
Regardless of age or country of birth, every single protester across North American flew the Ukrainian flag proudly in their hearts that day, while their thoughts were filled with concerns about the new wave of repressions in Ukraine.
by Ivanka Bryan
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