Russian organizers, other immigrants speak out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

American flags, the yellow and blue of Ukraine’s flag and a blue and white flag that activists hope will catch on for a peaceful Russia.

News 12 Staff

Mar 7, 2022, 4:09 AM

Updated 947 days ago

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Dozens of immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, George, Kazakhstan and other countries rallied in Brighton Beach Sunday to rally against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
American flags, the yellow and blue of Ukraine’s flag and a blue and white flag that activists hope will catch on for a peaceful Russia.
“The red stripe for us represents blood and violence so we decided to remove it and replace it with white,” says organizer Yulia Zaporozht. “The color of peace, the white of clouds on a blue sky.”
The protest was organized by a couple of immigrants from Russia, calling for freedom in their home country.
“We are representing the Russian position, we are Russians,” Zaporozht says. “We came rom Moscow. And for Ukrainians, now more than ever before, it is important for them to hear our support, the support of the Russian people.”
Many of the speakers say they support a no-fly zone over Ukraine to stop shelling bombs and missiles.
They also blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the violence, one even brought a bottle of red liquid and poured it over his photo.
Organizers say Putin does not act on behalf of the Russian people.
They moved to New York after they were detained for marching against Putin back in 2014 after he annex Crimea.
There are Russians that are speaking out against the war in Ukraine who are being detained and facing jail time.