White House Memorial for Civilians Killed in Ukraine
By Phil Pasquini
Washington: On March 13, an emotional vigil took place at the White House in memory of those killed so far in Putin’s 16th day of war on Ukraine. An especially touching part of the vigil were photos and toys symbolic of the estimated 79 innocent children killed by Russian soldiers. The display also included photos of many others killed in the conflict.
Before the program began, President Biden’s Marine One helicopter circled over the area as the president returned home from a weekend jaunt. He was able to get a good look at the crowd assembled below before the helicopter made its final approach for landing at the opposite side of the White House.
The crowd was told that the estimated number of killed so far in the war exceeded the numbers posted on the barricades around the area and that in fact they were much higher. In Mariupol alone the number of 1,500 dead posted on signs was now about 2,500 showing the growing toll on the Ukrainian people.
At the opening of the vigil, it was declared that “There is a way for this to stop. If enough hearts in the Russian soldiers’ army would see the tragedy that has occurred, this will stop. If enough of our leaders in the countries in the Western world recognize that words help but action really makes the impact, this will stop.”
The first speaker Olessa, an expectant mother who will soon give birth, just escaped Kyiv a few days ago after her maternity hospital was bombed. She called for closing the air space to Russian aircraft in stopping such crimes against humanity and implored the Biden administration to do so immediately. She went on to say that she does not want to be a refugee but wants to return to her apartment and be in the new room for her baby girl. She finished by saying, “Don’t close us yet, don’t close your heart, just close the sky.”
Ukrainian Parliament member Alexandra Ustinova, who is also expecting, spoke emotionally, saying: “This is not about a war anymore, this is about the execution of Ukrainians that the world is watching 24/7 on their TV channels. We have the support of people all over the world but not their governments. You promised 25 years ago, when we gave up our nukes, that we would have the protection if something happens. Now you forgot about your promises, you don’t keep your promises. You tell us you have allocated 14 billion dollars to support Ukraine. We don’t need the money, we need the jets, we need the arms. This country has been protecting other countries that have nothing to do with NATO or anything else, but they have obligations for us and they’re not keeping their word. We are not the last country to be invaded.”
“I don’t understand where is the red line for people watching this all over the world to push for their governments for action and we are not asking them to come and fight for us, we don’t need your soldiers,” she continued. “I am asking the American administration to give us the jets we can use to protect our skies and protect our children. Unfortunately, they have been silent about this…” Ustinova went on to say how she could never imagine that a child of five or six would know what a no-fly zone or a javelin is, but that they know they need to be home and not refugees the rest of their lives.
She was followed by three children who read letters and a poem they had written in Ukrainian to the children of Ukraine. After which a moment of silence was called for with everyone kneeling to reflect on the lives lost so far and hoping for an end to the war. In closing, two priests prayed for an end to the hostilities.
(Phil Pasquini is a freelance journalist and photographer. His reports and photographs appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.ink. He is the author of Domes, Arches and Minarets: A History of Islamic-Inspired Buildings in America.)
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