Norwalk Community Rallies In Support Of Ukraine

NORWALK, CT — Passionate singing between moments of silence and prayers could be heard outside City Hall in Norwalk as local and state leaders joined with community members Wednesday night in support of Ukraine following Russia's recent invasion.

Mayor Harry Rilling said the purpose of the vigil was to stand in unity with the community's Ukrainian brothers and sisters and denounce the actions of Russia.

"There's a horrible, horrible situation there that we can't even imagine," Rilling said. "I'm sure some of the Ukrainian [community] members here are in contact with family and hearing what's going on over there, but there's a lot of lies and misinformation coming out of Russia so that the Russian people don't have a true understanding of the horrors that the Ukrainians are experiencing."

In a separate statement provided this week, Rilling said he condemned the recent attacks on Ukraine.

"Russia's attack on Ukraine is a despicable act of war and is totally unprovoked," Rilling said in a statement. "Despite promises by Putin and the Russian ambassador to the U.S. that there were no plans to attack, they did just that. My office stands ready to communicate with our federal delegates to provide support to our Ukrainian community in gathering updates on relatives in the war zone."

During the ceremony, the Ukrainian flag was raised outside City Hall as those in attendance waved flags, held up signs and sang the Ukrainian National Anthem. A number of community religious leaders also led the large crowd, gathered in the cold evening air, in songs and prayer.

State Sen. Majority Leader Bob Duff, State Rep. Lucy Dathan and various local and state leaders were also in attendance Wednesday night. Duff said it was important for everyone on a community and state level to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and show their support for freedom.

"This is uniting our country and our world to stand against this aggression by President [Vladimir] Putin," Duff said to Patch, "and that we all should have something to say about it, even though Ukraine is a long ways away. It impacts us, it matters to us and it will affect us if he is successful with his illegal war of his."

Duff also noted it was heartwarming to see so many people standing outside City Hall to support the Ukrainian community.

"I don't think any of us knew really how large the Ukrainian population was in this area," Duff said, "but I'm very gratified to see everybody here and that not only do we have a lot of Ukrainians, but there's people from all cross-sections of our community. I'm really glad about that."

As the ceremony came to a close, the Ukrainian flag flying proudly for all to see, Rilling asked those who held a flameless candle to twist them so they lit up.

"We ask that everybody light candles from now until Ukraine is safe again," Rilling said. "We want to make sure that we don't forget."