Photos: Yoopers, students stand up for Ukraine

By Michele Bourdieu
Photos by Nadija Packauskas

Local residents demonstrate support for Ukraine during a Walk for World Peace at the Portage Lift Bridge in Houghton on Feb. 27. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

HOUGHTON -- About a dozen concerned local residents gathered at the Portage Lift Bridge in Houghton on Sunday, February 27, to show support for Ukraine and solidarity with people demonstrating in many cities around the world in support of Ukrainians defending their country against Russian aggression.

Ukraine supporters display signs and flags during the Walk for World Peace on the Portage Lift Bridge Sunday, Feb. 27. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Nadija Packauskas, a Lithuanian American, organized the Walk on Sunday. Asked why she organized this event, Nadia said she considers herself a "free-lance human being" and a concerned citizen. 

A second Walk for World Peace in support of Ukraine will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, beginning on the Houghton side of the Portage Lift Bridge. Non-political signs are welcome. Some flags, candles and signs will be available. See Keweenaw Now's right column for details.

Nadija also attended and photographed student demonstrations for Ukraine held on Monday, Feb. 28, and Tuesday, March 1, near the Husky statue in the center of the Michigan Tech campus. These demonstrations are expected to continue throughout the week.

Michigan Tech students gather near the Husky statue in the center of campus to demonstrate support for Ukraine. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

The campus demonstrations were organized by Adelina Oronova, a Ukrainian Fulbright PhD candidate in chemistry at Michigan Tech.

In an email shared widely on campus, Adelina said the noon demonstrations are meant to show support especially for Ukrainian students at Michigan Tech whose families and friends are in grave danger in Ukraine.

More photos by Nadija:

Participants in the Walk for World Peace display signs and flags on the Portage Lift Bridge Sunday, Feb. 27.

Nadija is pictured here (center) with her father, Vytautas Packauskas, and Zenia Vodoris, left, a Russian student at Michigan Tech.

Several participants in the Walk display the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine.

Nadija on the bridge with sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine.

Michigan Tech students demonstrate support for Ukraine.

Nadija Packauskas shared these photos with Keweenaw Now from the new Facebook page Yoopers for Ukraine. New members are welcome.