Posted: Sunday, September 14, 2014, 6:54 PM
As a tenuous cease-fire agreement remained in place Sunday between forces in the Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists, about 100 members of local Ukrainian, Russian, Lithuanian and Georgian communities gathered near Independence Hall in Philadelphia to express solidarity with one another.
The rally was held in protest of recent actions taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been accused of invading Ukraine on several fronts. Putin has denied the accusation, but media outlets have documented Russian soldiers in parts of the country.
'Eastern European countries are very concerned that what's happening could spill over into their countries,' said Mount Airy resident Mary Kalyna, one of the rally organizers. 'It's the Ukraine today - but anyone could be next.'
Holding signs with messages such as 'Wake up America,' and at times chanting 'Stop Putin,' most demonstrators said they were alarmed by what they saw as a pattern of aggression against the Ukrainian government and its people.
Rally organizers also read statements of support from local politicians, including U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Phila.).
'There is such uncertainty in Ukraine right now,' said the Rev. Peter Burkauskas, pastor of St. Andrew's Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church in Fairmount. 'There is fear that while the rest of the world is focused on other hotbeds, Putin will continue to occupy the Baltic states and try to rebuild the Soviet Union.'
Burt Siegel of the Jewish Community Relations Council was one of several speakers who said Putin's actions were reminiscent of Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland.
'It's important for all of us to remember the history of many of the countries that are represented here today,' he said. 'It's important for all of us to remember that the love of freedom is universal.'
Pennsylvania has the nation's second-largest Ukrainian-descended population, about 122,000. Some of those residents have been gathering often this year as they have watched from afar the developing conflicts in Ukraine and Russia.
'When I read about the violence and the escalation of aggression from Russia, I am actually ashamed,' said Marina Senko, of Bucks County, who moved to the United States from Moscow 17 years ago. 'It scares me to death.'
asteele@phillynews.com
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@AESteele
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