Pro-Ukraine demonstrations have drawn hundreds of supporters from throughout the Southland to show their support and demand the U.S. do more to assist the besieged country.
“Today We Are All Ukrainians,” read a sign held by a demonstrator during protest Saturday at Santa Monica and Sepulveda boulevards, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein has an office. Other signs read: “Stop Russian Imperialism,” “Russia Go Home” and “Hands Off! Russia Take a Seat! End This Tyranny!”
Demonstrators could be seen on all four corners of the intersection.
Similar protests were held along Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood and at Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards in Studio City.
Overnight, Los Angeles City Hall was illuminated in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukraine flag, a show of solidarity that has been repeated at numerous landmarks worldwide.
Many of those protesting Saturday told reporters Ukraine was their homeland and expressed concern for friends and relatives still living there.
Gana Hovey, a U.S. citizen, told the Los Angeles Times her parents live in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine and one that had withstood a barrage of bombing by Russia.
“My parents have been staying in a bomb shelter for the past three days,” she said Saturday while demonstrating on Sepulveda Boulevard. “When they tell me things are quiet, I feel so relieved. All I want to hear is that things are quiet.”
Another Southland demonstration is set for 2 p.m. Sunday on the 3rd Street Promenade, sponsored by the Ukrainian Culture Center Los Angeles.
“We call on the entire LA community to join the Ukrainian-American diaspora … to STOP BLOODSHED in Ukraine!,” center officials posted on Facebook. “Ukrainian people are currently under horrific war attack from Russia.”
The post goes on to outline several actions they believe the Biden Administration can take to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s continue attacks.
1. Close the Sky over Ukraine #CloseTheSky
2. Immediately provide military aid to Ukraine, especially the air defense systems and the heavy weaponry, as well as financial and humanitarian aid.
3. Enact Hellish Sanctions on Russia right now, including cutting Russia off from SWIFT. Monday may be too late.
4. Isolate Russia in all possible formats on the world stage.
Center officials urged local supporters to not “stand aside! Global democracy and security are at stake.”
There were reports late Saturday that the U.S., European Union and United Kingdom have agreed to block selected Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial messaging system, which enables a worldwide network of financial institutions to exchange funds.
A Pentagon spokesman also announced Saturday that President Joe Biden has committed an additional $350 million in military assistance to Ukraine, including anti-armor munitions, small arms and other equipment to help the former Soviet republic to defend itself.