Peaceful protest shows the support from our county
The Ukrainian community in West Sussex came together on Sunday to protest Vladimir Putin’s war in their home country.
Organised by Nataliya De Kremer, who has lived in the UK for 13 years, the peaceful protest in Crawley saw people bring posters and signs demonstrating against the war.
Mrs De Kremer spoke and led the gathering in singing the Ukrainian National Anthem. Local MP Henry Smith also spoke and chanted ‘Stop the War’.
Ingrida Kazlauskiene, a Lithuanian, also gave a passionate speech about why this war should not be happening and how it will affect other countries in the area.
Mrs De Kremer, who lives in Crawley Down, was amazed by the turnout and said how important it is people are aware of what is going on in her home country.
She said: “I organised this protest because there is a war going on in my own country I have a lot of family members who are there at the moment in West Ukraine.
“There have been bombs going off there. There is a military and civilian airport there and it’s been blown up. Missiles have been dropping on it and my family live just 1km away from it.
“They felt the ground shaking and it’s not right. People are dying.
“My friends and family are there.
“Some of them are fleeing and some of them are staying to fight.”
Putin ordered forces to invade Ukraine last Thursday and fighting has continued since then.
The UK, along with the EU and US, have imposed sanctions on Russia and have provided military aid to Ukraine.
Meanwhile other areas of the county have also been
showing their support.
Chichester City Council has shown its support for the people of Ukraine after changing light displays in the city to match the country’s flag. After the sun had gone down in the city on Tuesday LED lighting around The Council House in North Street (pictured) and the ancient Market Cross in the centre of the city were turned yellow and blue to mark the city council’s solidarity with the Eastern European nation.
Councillors each wore a blue and yellow ribbon to mark the occasion. Pupils from The Prebendal school visited the cathedral for Ash Wednesday and wrote prayers for the people of Ukraine.
The flag of Ukraine is also being flown outside County Hall, in Chichester.
On Saturday, March 5, Arundel will also be a sea of blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Events will be held all over town with music and entertainment, coffee mornings, raffles and a variety of other fundraising efforts.
One of the organisers of Arundel for Ukraine, Krisztina Hall said: “By the end of our first day, we had set up the Arundel for Ukraine page on Facebook which gives full details of our campaign and easy ways in which people can donate so that every penny goes direct to the relief effort.
“The empathy and compassion shown by the Arundel community has been amazing, with people pledging donations from £5 up to £100. Every donation can make a big and immediate difference.”
Word has spread quickly and everyone is getting on board.