Californians Protest Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

CALIFORNIA — Californians all over the state planned to hit the streets on Sunday in protest of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces — the first major land war on European soil in decades.

Escalating tensions in Europe have continued to ripple throughout the U.S. and California as crowds also gathered Saturday on both ends of the state in support of Ukraine.

In San Francisco, demonstrators were set to gather at city hall at 2 p.m. for the "Save Ukraine! Stop War!" rally, which will demand three things: create a no-fly zone for Ukraine, increase military and financial aid to Ukraine, and guarantee security for Ukraine with "internationally recognized borders."

In Santa Monica a march seeking to "stop bloodshed" in Ukraine was set to begin at 2 p.m. on the Third Street Promenade.

The conflict is particularly upsetting for Ukrainians in California, who are praying for friends and family, donating money and supplies and attending demonstrations.

Southland resident Irina Hetman's 38-year-old son serves in the Ukrainian armed forces and is stationed where the battle has unfolded in the country's eastern region, ABC7 reported. She has wondered whether they will be reunited again.

"I would like to go to Ukraine and be close to my son. But right now, I don't know what I can do," she told the station.

More than 90,000 Californians have Ukrainian ancestry and make up about 15 percent of the nation's Ukrainian population, according to the 2019 American Community Survey, the New York Times reported.

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The Sunday protests come one day after similar demonstrations in San Francisco, West Los Angeles, Hollywood and Studio City.

In downtown San Diego on Saturday, the county administration building was illuminated at sunset in blue and yellow — the colors of the Ukraine flag — to demonstrate the county's solidarity with Ukraine. Los Angeles also lit up its city hall blue and yellow on the same evening.

Pro-Ukraine demonstrations in the Los Angeles area drew hundreds on Saturday, demanding that Biden do more to assist the besieged country.

"Today We Are All Ukrainians," read a sign held by a demonstrator Saturday at Santa Monica and Sepulveda boulevards in West Los Angeles, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein has an office. Other signs read: "Stop Russian Imperialism," "Russia Go Home" and "Hands Off! Russia Take a Seat! End This Tyranny!"

Feinstein (D-California) issued a statement Thursday saying "it is incumbent on all nations to ensure that Putin and his government are met with severe consequences. Putin must understand that such aggression will not stand."

Similar protests were held along Hollywood Boulevard and at Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards in Studio City last week.

Many of those protesting Saturday told reporters that Ukraine was their homeland and expressed concern for friends and relatives still living there.

Gana Hovey, a U.S. citizen, told the Los Angeles Times that her parents live in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine and one that had withstood a barrage of bombing by Russia.

"My parents have been staying in a bomb shelter for the past three days," she said Saturday while demonstrating on Sepulveda Boulevard. "When they tell me things are quiet, I feel so relieved. All I want to hear is that things are quiet."

City News Service and Bay City News contributed to this report.