WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A very large crowd showed their support for Ukraine by unfurling and holding above the ground the world's largest Ukrainian flag in view of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 8.
Organizers and sponsors of the event, "Don't Abandon Ukraine," from several Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American organizations led the participants in chants for Ukraine and directed volunteers to form two very long lines for holding, unfurling and returning the flag, which, out of respect, was not allowed to touch the ground.
As the March 8, 2025, "Don't Abandon Ukraine" rally begins, organizers lead participants in chanting, "Stand with Ukraine," "Make Russia Pay," and "Don't Abandon Ukraine." (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Many participants carried signs and flags and some wore their messages on their clothing.
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As volunteers were lining up to hold the flag, Keweenaw Now interviewed two participants from Ukraine now living in the United States -- Natalia, who came from Philadelphia for the event, even though it was her mother's birthday, and Danylo, of Lviv in Ukraine, who is stationed in Washington, D.C., for his work with the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Danylo, of Lviv in Ukraine, said he has been working in Washington, DC, for St. Gabriel's Institute for Communication and Diplomacy to create awareness of the situation of the Ukrainian Catholic Church under the Russian aggression.
Danylo points out the importance of communication and diplomacy between Ukrainian Christians and those in other countries, including the U.S. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Volunteers lined up facing one another in two very long lines to prepare for passing the flag and holding it.
Nearly 200 volunteers form two lines in order to pass the rolled flag along in preparation for unfurling it. Led by Lev of Razom for Ukraine, they chant, "Slava Ukraini! Heroiam Slava!" (Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!) (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)As participants were lining up, media representatives were interviewing people in the crowd. One of these, Andriy Borys of Voice of America, interviewed a former MAGA Trump supporter who had changed his mind.
Among the Ukraine supporters at the "Don't Abandon Ukraine" rally is a former MAGA supporter, who has changed his position. He is being interviewed by Andriy Borys of Voice of America, who gave Keweenaw Now permission to publish this interview. (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)Volunteers in two lines begin passing the giant rolled Ukrainian flag down the line in preparation for its unfurling. (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)Those holding the flag must wait until it has passed completely around the crowd and is ready for the unrolling. Leaders asked others in the crowd to relieve some of the volunteers in holding the flag tightly. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Finally, following the 1, 2, 3 count of the leader, those holding the flag take 3 steps back together to unroll it as the crowd chants, "Stand with Ukraine!" (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)
Chanting "Bring Ukrainian children home," the crowd refers to Russia's war crimes against thousands of Ukrainian children in the past three years of war.
The crowd chants for the Ukrainian children who were forcefully taken from their families to be raised in Russia.(Video by Keweenaw Now) As the world's largest Ukrainian flag is displayed by a large crowd of Ukraine supporters, participants chant, "A Just Peace for Ukraine." (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)Finally the flag must be rolled up to be displayed in another city somewhere in the world.
Following the display of the world's largest Ukrainian flag in view of the White House, participants roll the flag up for its return. (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)Participants hold the giant rolled flag as it is returned to its container. (Video by John Peiffer for Keweenaw Now)
After participating in holding the giant flag, Orysia from New Jersey and her daughter, Sofia, who lives in New York City, displayed their signs and agreed to a brief interview.
One quiet, patient participant at the March 8, 2025, "Don't Abandon Ukraine" flag event, Whiskey the dog, was still wagging her tail happily as the crowd began to disperse following the return of the flag.
Wearing her own Ukrainian flag, Whiskey retained a positive attitude throughout the afternoon rally, reminding us to be hopeful.*Several Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American organizations helped with organizing and sponsoring this event, including Razom for Ukraine, United Help Ukraine, Nova Ukraine, American Coalition for Ukraine, US Ukrainian Activists, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and the Ukrainian-American Coordinating Council.
* Editor's Note: Three days after the "Don't Abandon Ukraine" rally described here, on March 11, the US and Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire. As of the time of posting the above article today, according to BBC News, "Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed with the idea of a ceasefire in Ukraine, but that 'questions' remained about the nature of a truce as he set out a number of tough conditions."
See BBC News, March 13, 2025: "Putin sets out conditions for Ukraine ceasefire."
See also BBC News, March 12, 2025: "Decoding the Ukraine ceasefire plan line by line."
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