Emergency “Freedom Rally” unites Ukrainians and Americans
A crowd was gathering in front of the famed Beverly Hills sign on Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. Dozens of people stood holding signs and waving flags brightly adorned with the distinctive Ukrainian blue and yellow colors. Honking and chants filled the air, sounding “Ukraine is free, will always be” and “Ukraine is not for sale, we will prevail.”
Among this protesting group gathered at the Beverly Hills Garden Park on March 1, the mood was somber, yet passionate, in light of the meeting that had occurred the day before in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.
It was a meeting that was supposed to engender cooperation, engage the United States in ceasefire talks, and broker a mineral rights deal between the two countries. Instead, Trump took an aggressive stance, raising his voice and speaking over Zelenskyy, as the discussion escalated into a heated exchange. Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for U.S. support.
The rally was called for immediately by Mykhailo Lavrys, president and co-founder of the Stand with Ukraine (SWU) Foundation, to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine and to show the strength and unity of the Ukrainian community in Los Angeles. “This is the strongest support that we can show right now,” Lavrys said, addressing the crowd.
The message was rallying, including a performance of both the United States and Ukrainian national anthems sung by INKA, a Ukrainian singer/songwriter.
Other speakers included Mariana Boyko, vice president and co-founder of the SWU Foundation. She said, “Today we are gathered not just as individuals, but as a united force for justice, freedom and humanity. We stand here because Ukraine is still fighting, not just for its survival, but for the values that define the free world.”
It wasn’t just Ukrainians who were demonstrating at the rally. Speaker Conrad Mazeika, president of the Baltic American Freedom League, is Lithuanian. He reminded the audience of the “bloodshed that has been going on for thousands of years. We have to stand up strong against barbarianism by supporting Ukraine all the way to victory.”
There was an emphasis on the importance of taking action. Boyko said, “I’m asking you today to not be silent… Call your senators. Call your representatives... Tell them that standing with Ukraine means standing for freedom, for democracy and for the values that America claims to uphold.”
Eventually the demonstrators rallied around a huge blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, about 10 feet wide and as long as a city block. Lavrys led the procession, followed by three men holding a sign reading “Supporting Freedom in Ukraine = Supporting Freedom in USA.” They walked the flag from the park down Rodeo Drive, along Wilshire Boulevard, and back up Beverly Drive, with dozens of people holding the flag on all sides.
The small crowd was now numbered at over 100, most of them wearing or waving the bright colors of the Ukrainian flag. They wrapped up this peaceful demonstration back in the park as a group of people gathered together in solidarity.