Rally for Ukraine draws large crowd at B.C. legislature
CTV
A large crowd descended on the B.C. legislature building on Sunday to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and support the demands of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress for additional aid to the besieged nation.
Members of the crowd held signs and carried Ukrainian and Canadian flags, and listened to speakers and musical performances on the legislature steps.
Local and provincial politicians were in the crowd, and speakers included Victoria MP Laurel Collins, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming, Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and Victoria City Coun. Stephen Andrew, who delivered a message on behalf of Mayor Lisa Helps and the council.
More than 1,000 people attended the rally, which was organized by the Victoria branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Organizers asked rally participants to write their members of Parliament and ask for Canada to support a no-fly zone over Ukraine, the provision of anti-aircraft, anti-rocket and naval weapons to Ukraine and a full trade embargo on Russia.
The UCC is also asking for Russia to be removed from the SWIFT international payments system, a process that leaders of Western nations announced on Saturday that they would begin.
Sunday's rally followed other large gatherings in support of Ukraine across Canada, including one in Vancouver on Saturday that drew more than 1,000 participants.
It was also the second consecutive day of protests at the legislature, after supporters of the self-described "Freedom Convoy" against COVID-19-related mandates gathered on Saturday for the fifth straight weekend.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces continue their attempts to seize the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, B.C. residents with ties to the country have shared stories of friends and relatives fleeing the violence.
