Candlelight Vigil for Aleppo Held Outside Russian Mission on Upper East Side

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Protesters gathered Tuesday night near the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations — located on the Upper East Side — to protest the country's involvement in Syria's civil war and to hold a candlelight vigil for Syrians living in the war-torn city of Aleppo.

Demonstrators waving Syrian flags shouted "Russia, Russia out of Syria now," "free Aleppo" and "save Syria's children" on the chilly Tuesday night. The protesters had planned to stand outside the Russian mission on East 67th Street near Lexington Avenue, but were blocked off by the NYPD, organizers posted on Facebook.

According to protest organizers, hundreds showed up Tuesday night to show support for the victims of violence in Syria and to protest Russia's backing of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

"I want to thank everyone who came from far and wide and made a most amazing presence tonight in New York. We have a voice, and our voice is powerful, and we will be heard," one of the protest organizers, Amina Susan Ali, posted to Facebook.

The battle for Aleppo — which has raged for about four years and devastated Syria's largest city — is coming to an end as Syrian government forces bombard the city and attempt to starve out the last-remaining rebels, the New York Times reported Tuesday. Russian officials declared that rebel forces agreed Tuesday to hand the city over to government forces, according to the Times report.

Another protest and vigil in support of the victims of violence in Syria is being planned for Friday at Washington Square Park.

Photos courtesy of Twitter user Davut Demircan