March 26: National Rally In Support of Ukraine

In light of the worsening situation in Eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian-Americans from the metropolitan Baltimore-Washington area, together with hundreds from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, and Texas will assemble in front of the White House on Thursday, March 26, 2015. In view of the ever-worsening situation in Ukraine it is of utmost importance for all freedom-loving people attend, en masse, the “Rally in Support of Ukraine” in Washington, DC, and urge the Obama Administration to immediately send Ukraine the military assistance it desperately needs to defend itself against this ongoing Russian invasion.

This rally will again being organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. in lieu of the planned rally on March 5th that was postponed due to a winter storm. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA.org), the umbrella organization representing the over one million Americans of Ukrainian descent, upholds the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The people of Ukraine have the right to determine their future without the interference of foreign states.

Ukrainian troops have managed to withdraw the bulk of their forces from the city of Debaltseve, but at great cost. The Ukrainian army has fought valiantly, however, they remain short of every necessity, except courage. Urgent action on the part of the West is needed now to assist those fighting on the front lines of Western democracy. Protesters will advocate the immediate implementation of the “Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014,” signed by President Obama in December 2014 – to send defensive lethal military assistance to Ukraine and impose additional sanctions on Russia. Community representatives will also call for Russia to be removed from the SWIFT payment system.

The Crimean Tatar community and other Central and Eastern European communities are expected to participate in the rally. Members of Congress, ambassadors from Central and East European countries, and former U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine have been invited to address the rally, as well.