Rally for Ukraine St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Parma Ohio February 27, 2022
Parma Ohio is a suburb of Cleveland that has a large and strong Ukrainian community including an area known as Ukrainian Village. With the atrocities of the criminal invasion of sovereign Ukraine by the madman Putin, the Ukrainian community, friends and supporters gathered to show support.
Crowds filled St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral to capacity and the standing room only crowd spilled outside.
The event began with solemn prayers for the country and people of Ukraine.
Clergy at St. Vladimir rally for Ukraine
Assistant Pastor Rev. Michael Hontaruk gave his remarks (in English and Ukrainian) after the religious service.
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Rev. Michael Hontaruk
Rev. Hontaruk introduced Marta Liscynesky-Kelleher, president of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, an umbrella group for more than 50 Ukrainian cultural, political and other organizations in the state.
Marta Liscynesky-Kelleher
Marta gave her remarks and then introduced Honorary Consul of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys who said that Lithuania stands with Ukraine.
Honorary Consul of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys
Next, Marta introduced American Jewish Committee Cleveland Regional Director Lee C. Shapiro who spoke of the solidarity of Jews and Ukrainians.
AJC Cleveland Regional Director Lee C. Shapiro
Next, Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter called up the Parma City Council as he gave his remarks about the Ukrainian community and Ukrainian Village in Parma.
Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter
Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter and City Council members
US Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur gave her remarks and offered a plan coming from this part of America.
US Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
US Senator Rob Portman gave his remarks and was given a standing ovation by the crowd. On Meet the Press that morning Senator Portman advocated for Ukraine's membership in NATO.
US Senator Rob Portman
Near the end of the ceremony the crowd sang a Ukrainian song wishing 100 years of life and then God Bless America.
Marta Liscynesky-Kelleher gave her call to action at the end of the rally.
Assistant Pastor Rev. Michael Hontaruk gave his final thoughts and the people gathered outside the Church with signs and sang songs and showed support for Ukraine.
There were many government officials, organization leaders, friends from other ethnic communities and more at the rally. Some of the officials we saw include:
Andy Fedynsky - Ukrainian Museum and Archives
Armond Budish - Cuyahoga County Executive
Chris Ronayne - County Executive Candidate
Frank Whitfield - Mayor of Elyria
Ingrida Bublys - Honorary Lithuanian Consul
Jim Trakas - Former Ohio House of Representatives
Lee C. Shapiro - American Jewish Committee Cleveland
Lee Weingart - County Executive Candidate
Marcy Kaptur - US Congress
Matt Dolan - US Senate Candidate
Mike Polensek - Cleveland City Councilman
Nickie Antonio - State Senator
Ralph Perk - American Nationalities Movement leader
Rob Portman - US Senator
Roman Fedorko - Cleveland Department of Public Health
Tim DeGeeter - Mayor of Parma
Toomas Tubalkain - Estonian leader
Sorry for those I missed. Please let me know if you were there and I will add you.
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