Manitobans march to show unity with Ukrainians

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This article was published 14/05/2022 (915 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans swaddled towels and cloths covered in red paint on their march to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Sunday.

The act was a sign of unity with Ukrainians and a reminder of Russia’s ongoing invasion.

“Children have been… brutally tortured and abused by the Russian soldiers, and targeted and killed, and there’s no reason for that,” said Maryka Chabluk, one of the event’s organizers.

The white garments in marchers’ hands symbolized Ukrainian children, Chabluk said.

At least 200 kids have been killed in the war. Last month, Ukraine’s UN ambassador accused Russia of abducting more than 120,000 Ukrainian children.

“(It’s) totally unbelievable to think in this century that there would be that kind of devastation and murder, and that the world sits by and feels that they can’t stop Russia,” Chabluk said.

She’s a member of the local Ukrainian Canadian Congress. The national organization called on its provincial groups to organize events on Sunday to maintain public awareness, Chabluk said.

“Canada and the west cannot stand by and let this genocide continue,” she said. “Our governments are failing their moral duties.”

She said the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is still calling for NATO to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and for Canada to send more military equipment.

Meantime, a plane with Ukrainian immigrants is set to enter Winnipeg on May 23.

The war began Feb. 24.

The Manitoba Provincial Council also helped organize the march Sunday.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com