HOUGHTON-HANCOCK -- About 30 participants in the fourth Walk for World Peace in support of Ukraine displayed signs and flags to rush-hour traffic crossing the Portage Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
According to organizer Adelina Oronova, Fulbright Ukrainian scholar at Michigan Tech, these walks will continue every Wednesday until the war of Russian aggression in Ukraine ends.
Adelina and her Ukrainian husband, Nazar Gora, also a Michigan Tech graduate student, have been active in spreading the word about Ukraine both on and off campus. They have led demonstrations on campus at noon near the Husky statue and hosted presentations and open discussions on Ukraine in both the Michigan Tech library and the Portage Lake District Library as well as offering an online presentation during last week's UPEC (Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition) Celebrate the UP! online event.
As participants gathered to begin the March 16 Walk in Houghton, two visitors from Marquette, Ukrainian mothers accompanied by their small children, spoke to Keweenaw Now about their reasons for making the two-hour drive to Houghton in order to participate in the Walk.
Ukrainian mothers Violetta Boyle, with her daughter, Lily, and Natalija Iskhakova and her son, Boris, came to Houghton from Marquette, MI, to participate in the March 16, 2022, Walk for World Peace and support for Ukraine. Both still have family members in Ukraine. Click on YouTube for a larger view. (Video by Keweenaw Now)A little after 5 p.m. the walkers began their trek across the Lift Bridge, flags flying in the wind and signs aimed at passing traffic, stopping on the Hancock side of the bridge to face the traffic there.
Led by Nazar Gora, the March 16, 2022, Walk for World Peace in support of Ukraine begins. Participants cross the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock, displaying their signs and flags. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Participants in the Walk cross the Portage Lift Bridge as they return from Hancock to Houghton. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Michigan Tech professors Craig Waddell and his wife, Victoria Bergvall, have participated in more than one of these Walks for World Peace in support of Ukraine. They spoke with Keweenaw Now about why they think it is important.
Craig Waddell and Victoria Bergvall of Houghton give their reasons for supporting Ukraine. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
Another local Ukrainian resident, Anna Hill of Chassell, told Keweenaw Now she joined the Walk because she wants Americans to support Ukraine.
Anna Hill, who is Ukrainian and now lives in Chassell (MI), speaks about her reasons for joining the Walk. With her is Elizabeth Flynn, retired professor emerita in Humanities at Michigan Tech University, who tutors Anna in English. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Beth and Tom Maki of Lake Linden said they walked for Ukraine because their son, Matt, is there, in Lviv. He has been in Ukraine for 10 years working as a teacher.
"He just loves it there," Beth Maki said. "I was there in 2019 with him and got to know the people. I'm hoping to go back there to see him and his friends again."
Organizer Adelina was pleased with the turnout for the Walk, noting it was good to see new participants each time.
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