Signs Of Ukraine Support Shown, Voiced Across North Shore

SALEM, MA — From the streets of countries across Europe to weekend rallies in New York City and Boston all the way to the North Shore, civic groups, officials and residents are showing their support for the people of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

The city of Salem was flying the Ukrainian flag on Monday five days after the Russian attack that has met defiant resistance from Ukraine forces, while Beverly issued a municipal statement on the "unlawful and horrific" attack.

"The city of Beverly expresses our solidarity with the Ukrainian people," the city said. "We are keeping you in our hearts and prayers as you fight for your lives against the unlawful and horrific invasion being perpetrated by the Russian government. Your courage and determination inspire our greatest admiration.

"To our Ukrainian friends and neighbors in Beverly and beyond, please know we stand with you and your loved ones here in Beverly, throughout America, and in Ukraine."

Salem State's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies also condemned what it called "the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine."

"(The Center) holds the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government responsible for ordering this war of aggression and using historical distortions and misinformation to justify this attack on Ukrainian sovereignty," the Center told Patch in a statement. "We recognize this as an avoidable tragedy and stand with the people of Ukraine, Russia and all other nations who oppose this war."

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton told Patch on Thursday that the invasion threatens democracy across the world and will have significant economic impacts on the North Shore.

"We may not realize it now but history may show that at this moment freedom is on the line," he said.

Moulton also asked constituents to reach out to and support local Ukrainian organizations — such as the Saint Nicholas Church of Salem — during these tenuous times.

"The Orthodox Church of America strongly condemns all violence and aggression," the Church posted on its website Monday, "and demands that Vladimir Putin withdraw all Russian military forces from Ukraine. We pray for peach, and for the well-being of the people of Ukraine."

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said on Monday the city was flying the Ukrainian flag to express solidarity with its citizens as well.

"It is heartbreaking to see violence and war impacting the people of Ukraine," she said. "I join so many from around the world in denouncing Russia's invasion of a sovereign nation loudly and firmly. The name of our city, Salem, means 'peace' and, at our core, we are a community built on compassion, respect and amity.

"The people of Salem stand with our friends in Ukraine and we hold them in our hearts as their nation suffers this atrocious invasion."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)