Category: Uncategorized
ODESSANS REMEMBER!
The Odessa Solidarity Campaign is honored to share this video that has been created by people of Odessa in defiant commemoration of the May 2 Massacre: “MAY 2 IN ODESSA: IN MEMORY OF THE EVENTS.” It has also been posted by many other websites, including Poland’s Strajk.eu.
And this video from the International Union of Antifascists is about what happened in Odessa on May 2, 2021: “Odessans, you are beautiful: the House of Trade Unions was drowend in flowers in memory of those who died on May 2.”
And just so you can see what these brave people are up against, here is an RT report and video of neo-Nazis marching on May 2 through Odessa:
https://www.rt.com/russia/522758-ukraine-nationalists-march-odessa/
May 2, 2021: International Day of Solidarity with Odessa & All Anti-Fascists in Ukraine!
The following cities held events on May 2, 2021, to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the Odessa Massacre of 2014. To add your event to this list, please send the date, time, location and name of the sponsoring organization to the Odessa Solidarity Campaign at: DefendersFJE@hotmail.com.
ODESSA, Ukraine
Here is a report direct from Odessa on the events of May 2:
“Odessa Remembers the Tragedy of May 2, 2014”
DONETSK, People’s Republic of Donetsk
LUGANSK, People’s Republic of Lugansk
MINSK, Belarus
VANCOUVER, Canada
A show of solidarity by the Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. http://www.mawovancouver.org)
BERLIN, Germany
NOTE: The Coop Antiwar Cafe in Berlin has done a great deal to promote May 2 solidarity actions and to gather endorsers on the International Statement of Solidarity. There website is here:
Solidarity vigil, with Oleg Musyka, survivor of the Odessa Massacre, in Berlin.
Solidarity vigil, with Gina Pietsch, in Berlin.
HAMBURG, Germany
BUDAPEST, Hungary
Supporters of justice in Hungary gather May 1 in Budapest’s Municipal Park to express their solidarity with Odessa. A speech was given on behalf of the Organisers for the Left (SZAB). It appears here in English:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C2lOCVVBeTyszhWAxtK_QV1mNl1qtdtb/view?usp=sharing
and in Hungarian on the website of ATTAC:
https://www.attac.hu/2021/05/szolidaritas-az-ogyesszai-meszarlas-aldozatainak-hozzatartozoival/
BOLOGNA, Italy
CERIANO LAGHETTO, Italy
Deputy Mayor Dante Cattaneo of the Italian municipality of Ceriano Laghetto expresses solidarity with the victims of the Odessa Massacre. His speech can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/ioulia.liakh.3/videos/947272439420774/.
MILAN, Italy
An event sponsored by La Brigata Immortale and Comitato Contro La Guerra Milano.
https://www.facebook.com/events/469931197610457/?active_tab=discussion
NAPLES, Italy
BALTI & CHISINAU, Moldova
Events by the International Union of Antifascists at the Embassy of Ukraine in Chisinau and the Consulate of Ukraine in Balti “to honor the memory of the innocent killed Odessa residents in the House of Trade Unions.WE WILL NOT FORGET – WE WILL NOT FORGIVE!”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/904958819629788/permalink/3729767863815522/
THE HAGUE, Netherlands
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14oRp0GYGqVzQ28Jc8iXwd5O_1gtBNGHN/view?usp=drivesdk
MOSCOW, Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia
LLORET DE MAR CATALUNA, Spain
This is one of four solidarity photos we received from Lloret de Mar Cataluna:
NEW YORK CITY – USA
A show of Solidarity in New York City’s historic Union Square by Solidarity with Novorossiya & Antifascists in Ukraine. https://www.facebook.com/UkraineAntifaSolidarity
RICHMOND – USA
Twenty antiwar and justice activists, the majority youth and women and a third African-Americans, gather in front of the Federal Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia, USA, to express solidarity with the people of Odessa in an event organized by the Odessa Solidarity Campaign. Photo: Charles Brown.
VIDEO: OSC Coordinator Phil Wilayto explains the significance of May 2 at the Richmond event: https://www.facebook.com/phil.wilayto/videos/10159079772559451
MEDIA COVERAGE:
https://tass.ru/politika/11292055 – U.S. organizations to protest Odessa Massacre ion May 2
https://tass.ru/obschestvo/11298461 – Richmonders hold Odessa solidarity event on May 2
THE BACKGROUND: May 2, 2021, marks the seventh anniversary of the Odessa Massacre, when a massive mob led by openly fascist organizations murdered scores of people at the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine. In February of that year, a right-wing coup backed by the U.S. government overthrew the elected president of Ukraine, unleashing neo-Nazi organizations against anyone thought to oppose the coup, especially Ukrainian citizens of Russian ancestry.
It was that coup – rarely mentioned by any Western media in coverage of the region’s current rising tensions – that led to the majority-ehtnic Russian people of Donetsk and Lugansk to declare themselves independent of Ukraine. For the same reason, the majority-Russian ethnic people of Crimea held a referendum in which they decided to reunite with the Russian Republic, which they had once been a part of. It was the right-wing coup that precipitated these events, not “Russian aggression.”
On May 2, in Odessa, a multi-ethnic city on the Black Sea, progressives had gathered outside the House of Trade Unions on Kulikovo square and were gathering signatures on a petition demanding that the Odessa province have the right to elect its own governor, rather than be appointed by the new right-wing central government.
Without warning, they were attacked by a much larger, fascist-led mob. They retreated into the five-story trade union building, which the mob then set on fire. At least 42 people died from the flames, smoke inhalation or from being beaten to death after jumping from the building’s windows to escape the fire. To date, not one person has been convicted of participating in the massacre, even though there are scores of cellphone videos of the events. (Just google “May 2, 2014, Odessa.”) Further, the Ukrainian government has never allowed an independent international investigation of the tragedy. Meanwhile, the U.S. government continues to support both the Ukrainian government and the neo-Nazi organizations that back the coup and led the attack in Odessa.
Some of these organizations, including the Azov Battalion, have linked up with U.S. white-supremacist groups, providing them with paramilitary training.
Each year on May 2, despite the threat of attacks by the fascists, Odessans gather at the site of the massacre to pay their respects to those who died there. And each year, antifascist organizations throughout the world hold local actions to show their support and to press the Odessans’ demand for an international investigation into the tragedy. (For more information on the Odessa Massacre, see: https://odessasolidaritycampaign.org.)
International Statement of Solidarity with the Anti-Fascist people of Ukraine and Dombass
This Statement was initiated by the U.S. organizations Odessa Solidarity Campaign (http://odessasolidaritycampaign.org) and Solidarity with Novorossiya & Antifascists in Ukraine (https://www.facebook.com/UkraineAntifaSolidarity) and is supported by the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine, among many other organizations.
No U.S.-Ukraine War on Donbass and Russia!
Stop the Drone Strikes on Civilians!
Stop Killing Children!
Justice for the Victims of the 2014 Odessa Massacre!
For seven years now, the right-wing government of Ukraine, supported by the United States and other Western powers, has been at war with the people of the independent Donetsk and Lugansk republics in the Donbass region of Eastern Europe. Some 14,000 people have been killed, according to the United Nations. The people of Donetsk and Lugansk live under a brutal military blockade imposed by Ukraine and its Western allies.
On March 22, a 71-year-old pensioner was killed by sniper fire near the capital of Donetsk.
On April 3, in Aleksandrovskoye, Donetsk, a Ukrainian military drone strike killed five-year-old Vladik Shikhov and wounded his 66-year-old grandmother.
On April 4, another Ukrainian drone strike wounded a civilian in Nikolaevka, Lugansk.
Many members of the antifascist People’s Militia have also been killed while defending residents.
Since January, Ukraine has been building up its military forces on the front line of the conflict. It uses prohibited weapons, targets civilians, schools and homes in violation of international law and regional ceasefire agreements.
Battalions of troops affiliated with neo-Nazi organizations have been sent to the region, replacing regular Ukrainian army troops. But the Ukrainian and U.S. governments and mainstream media blame Donetsk and Lugansk for taking steps to defend themselves, and threaten Russia for pledging to protect the people there if Ukraine invades.
Meanwhile, workers of all nationalities across Ukraine suffer repression, joblessness and price hikes while their government sells off the country’s resources to Wall Street.
The U.S. government, under both the Trump and Biden administrations, desperately wants to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that would allow Germany and other Western European countries to purchase Russian gas. Children, elders and other civilians in Donetsk and Lugansk are considered expendable targets by Kiev and Washington as they try to provoke a crisis to give them an excuse to further NATO military expansion and punish Russia.
In recent days, the U.S. and NATO have been warning of a Russian military build-up near the Ukrainian border, but never mention that one of the largest U.S. Army-led military exercises in decades has begun and will run until June: Defender Europe 2021, with 28,000 troops from 27 countries operating in a dozen countries from the Balkans to the Black Sea, which borders both Russia and Ukraine.
This is where the real danger of war is coming from. We say no!
Our joint call for international actions is related as well to another horrific tragedy.
May 2, 2021, marks the seventh anniversary of the Odessa Massacre, when a massive mob led by openly fascist organizations murdered scores of people at the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine. In February of that year, a right-wing coup backed by the U.S. government overthrew the elected president of Ukraine, unleashing neo-Nazi organizations against anyone thought to oppose the coup, especially Ukrainian citizens of Russian ancestry.
It was that coup – rarely mentioned by any Western media in coverage of the region’s current rising tensions – that led to the majority-ehtnic Russian people of Donetsk and Lugansk to declare themselves independent of Ukraine. For the same reason, the majority-Russian ethnic people of Crimea held a referendum in which they decided to reunite with the Russian Republic, which they had once been a part of. It was the right-wing coup that precipitated these events, not “Russian aggression.”
On May 2, in Odessa, a multi-ethnic city on the Black Sea, progressives had gathered outside the House of Trade Unions on Kulikovo square and were gathering signatures on a petition demanding that the Odessa province have the right to elect its own governor, rather than be appointed by the new right-wing central government.
Without warning, they were attacked by a much larger, fascist-led mob. They retreated into the five-story trade union building, which the mob then set on fire. At least 42 people died from the flames, smoke inhalation or from being beaten to death after jumping from the building’s windows to escape the fire. To date, not one person has been convicted of participating in the massacre, even though there are scores of cellphone videos of the events. (Just google “May 2, 2014, Odessa.”) Further, the Ukrainian government has never allowed an independent international investigation of the tragedy. Meanwhile, the U.S. government continues to support both the Ukrainian government and the neo-Nazi organizations that back the coup and led the attack in Odessa.
Some of these organizations, including the Azov Battalion, have linked up with U.S. white-supremacist groups, providing them with paramilitary training.
Each year on May 2, despite the threat of attacks by the fascists, Odessans gather at the site of the massacre to pay their respects to those who died there. And each year, antifascist organizations throughout the world hold local actions to show their support and to press the Odessans’ demand for an international investigation into the tragedy. (For more information on the Odessa Massacre, see: https://odessasolidaritycampaign.org.)
The people of the United States, United Kingdom, the countries of the European Union or any other country would gain nothing from a war with Russia, the only purpose of which would be to promote the profits of Big Oil, other corporations and banks. We are the ones who would pay the price, in blood and resources. We don’t want U.S. troops or any other soldiers to be sent to fight and die in another needless conflict. And we cry out against the U.S. proxy regime in Ukraine killing our sisters and brothers in Donetsk and Lugansk.
End U.S. aid to the Kiev regime! End all U.S. wars and sanctions!
In solidarity with the progressive people of Ukraine, we demand the following:
1 – An independent international investigation into the Odessa Massacre of May 2, 2014.
2 – An end to support by the governments of the United States and other Western powers for the neo-Nazi organizations such as Right Sector, Svoboda Party, C-14 militias and the Azov Battalion.
3 – An end to military support for the Ukrainian government in its war on the people of Donbass, who refuse to be dominated by the right-wing government.
4. Pressure the Ukrainian government to outlaw the neo-Nazi organizations in Ukraine.
5. Ban entry to the U.S. or countries of the European Union and their allies by any members of Ukrainian neo-Nazi organizations.
6. An international Investigation into the financing of Ukrainian neo-Nazi organizations by Ukrainian official leadership, with the imposition of international sanctions on those found guilty.
Further, we call on all progressive organizations around the world to hold vigils, rallies, public meetings and other events on May 2 to raise the above demands.
ENDORSERS (as of May 6, 2021):
ORGANIZATIONS:
Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine
Communist Party of the Donetsk People’s Republic
Trade Unions’ Federation of Lugansk Peoples’ Republic
Union of Lugansk Lands, NGO
Borotba Association – Ukraine, Donbass
Red Square / Molotov Club
Odessa Solidarity Campaign – USA
Solidarity with Novorossiya & Antifascists in Ukraine – USA
Anti-NATO Group Berlin – Brandenburg, Germany
Art Coupe – NGO Association – Italy
Centro di Iniziative la Verità e la Giustizia – SOS Resistent Ukraine / CIVG – Italy
Communist Party of Brazil
Coop Anti-War-Café – Berlin, Germany
Council of Federal Coordinators of the All-Russian Youth Movement for Patriotic and Moral Education of Youth “Volunteer Company of the Combat Brotherhood“ – Russia
Fire This Time – Vancouver, Canada
Frente Unido América Latina – Berlin, Germany
Friedensglockengesellschaft e.V. (Member, World Peace Bell Association (WPBA)), Anja Mewes, chair – Berlin, Germany
Global Harmony Association (GHA), Dr. Leo Semashko, State Councilor of St. Petersburg – Russia
Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
International Action Center
International Union of Antifascists
Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) – Vancouver, Canada
Revolutionärer Freundschaftsbund e.V. – Chemnitz, Germany
Struggle-La Lucha newspaper
United Labour Federation of Bangladesh
Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality – USA
Vrede met Rusland (A group of 2,400 people which aspires Peace with Russia) – Netherlands
Women Against Military Madness – Minneapolis, USA
Workers Party of Bangladesh
Workers World Party – USA
INDIVIDUALS:
Oleg Akimov – Chairman, Union of Lugansk Lands
Korsakova Lyubov Aleksandrovna – Deputy, Luhansk Regional Council of the V Convocation
Andrey Kochetov – Trade Unions’ Federation of Lugansk Peoples’ Republic
Larisa Shessler – Chairperson, Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine
Abul Hussain – President, United Labour Federation of Bangladesh
Phil Wilayto – Coordinator, Odessa Solidarity Campaign; Editor, The Virginia Defender – USA
Bahman Azad – Executive Secretary, U.S. Peace Council – USA
Dr. Alexander Bahar – Historiker und Publizist – Heilbronn, Germany
Dieter Becker – Mitglied, Gesellschaft zum Schutz von Bürgerrecht und Menschenwürde (GBM e. V.); Ostdeutsches
Kuratorium von Verbänden (OKV e.V.) – Germany
Barbara und Gerald Böhm – Mitglieder der ISOR e.V., Vorsitzender der TIG Leipzig – Germany
Joachim Bonatz – Stv. Vorsitzender ISOR e.V. – Germany
Bärbel Brede, Künstlerin – Teltow, Germany
Dr. Adam Broinowski – Historian and theatre maker – Australia
Heinrich Buecker – Member, German Peace Council, World Beyond War Berlin, Coop Anti-War-Café – Germany
Humberto Carvalho, Erecina Figueiredo, Nubem Medeiros, Cláudio Ribeiro & Luciano K. Vieira & — Communist Party of Brazil
Harry Cason – Lecturer, City University of New York/College of Staten Island – USA
John Catalinotto – International Dept., Workers World Party – USA
Terry Crawford-Browne – World Beyond War – South Africa
Maren Cronsnest – Anti-NATO-Gruppe Berlin Brandenburg, Frente Unido América Latina; Mitglied der VVN/BdA – Germany
Anton Demidov – Council of Federal Coordinators of the All-Russian Youth Movement for Patriotic & Moral Education of Youth
Renate Döhr – Irlandgruppe Omega – Berlin, Germany
Sara Flounders – Co-Director, International Action Center – USA
Angela und Lutz Gläsel – ISOR e.V. – Leipzig, Germany
Bernd Gnant, ISOR e. V., Kühlungsborn
Gedrius Grabauskas – Chairperson, Lithuanian Socialist Front
Robert Remarque Grund – Friedenaktivist und nichtständige; Vertretungsperson des Weltverbandes der Gehörlosen in Pjöngjang – Berlin, Germany
John Hankey – Film Director – USA
Prof. Dr. Gordana Jovanović, Faculty of Philosophy (retired), University of Belgrade – Serbia
Claudia Karas – AG Palästina/Frankfurt – Germany
Ana Barbara v. Keitz – Handwerkerin, Berliner Arbeitskreis Uranmunition – Germany
Stella Khorosheva – Co-Editor, “Sovranita Popolare” News holding – Italy
Vera Kubrichenko – City council of Slavyansk, V-th and VI-th cadention – Ukraine
Vera Kubrichenko – City council of Slavyansk, V-th and VI-th cadention – Ukraine
Anton Latzo, Prof Dr. Habil – Politikwissenschftler, Historiker – Germany
Frank Liebholdt – Frente Unido América Latina – Berlin, Germany
Klaus Linder – Deutscher Freidenker-Verband – Berlin, Germany
Joe Lombardo – United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) – USA
Gisela und Siegfried Lorenz – ISOR e.V. Leipzig – Germany
Raymond McGovern – Former CIA Analyst – USA
Dr. Izzeddin Musa – Diplomgeologe – Wachtberg, Germany
Dr. Alexander S. Neu – Member, German Parliament, DIE LINKE
Satoko Oka Norimatsu – Director, Peace Philosophy Centre, a peace-education organization – Vancouver, Canada
Dr. Nancy Larenas Ojeda – Freundschaftsgesellschaft Salvador Allende e.V, Berlin; Coordinador, Alemania Partido Communista
Axel Plasa – Journalist, Frente Unido América Latina – Berlin, Germany
Cornelia Praetorius – Berlin, Germany
Brigitte Queck – Dipl. Staatswissenschaftlerin, Mütter gegen den Krieg – Berlin, Germany
Karl Rehbaum und Eberhard Pätzold – Arbeitsgruppe Aufklärer in der GRH – Berlin, Germany
Telma Rinkes – Berlin, Germany
Jesus Rodriguez-Espinoza – Editor Orinoco Tribune, Independent News Outlet – Caracas, Venezuela
David Rovics – Singer/Songwriter, Political Activist – USA
Rick Rozoff – Journalist / Stop NATO – Chicago, USA
Dr. Wolfgang Schacht, Mitglied der Freidenker, Übersetzer russischer Artikel und Bücher, Wandlitz – Germany
Michael Scheinberg – Progressive Activist, College Teacher – USA
Donatas Shultsas – Chairperson, Lithuanian Union on Human Rights
Regina Silbermann – Spokesperson, LAG German-Russian Friendship – Saxony, Germany
Bijan Tavassoli – Vorstand Freidenker Nord – Hamburg, Germany
Tobias Thiele – Musiker – Berlin, Germany
Torsten Trentzsch, stellv. Vorsitzender des Rev. Freundschaftsbundes e. V. (RFB)
Mauro Valderrama – Lehrer, Mitglied Frente Unido America Latina, Coordinator Partido Communista Peru, Berlin – Germany
Peter Weinfurth – Editor, Linke Zeitung – Germany
Carolus Wimmer – President, Committee for International Solidarity and Peace, COSI; former President, Latin American
Parliament, GPV, 2014-2015 – Venezuela
TO ENDORSE THIS STATEMENT, REPORT ON LOCAL MAY 2 EVENTS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL:
ODESSA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN – DefendersFJE@hotmail.com
A project of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality
PO Box 23202, Richmond, VA 23223 – USA
Facebook: Odessa Solidarity Campaign
Web: http://odessasolidaritycampaign.org
Phone/Text: +1-804-644-5834 –
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STATEMENT BY THE UNION OF COMMUNITIES OF THE LUGANSK REGION
It is well known that in Odessa on May 2, 2014, militants of the extremist organization “Right Sector” and football fans destroyed a tent camp on Kulikovo Pole, where there was a peaceful collection of signatures for holding a referendum on the federalization of Ukraine and granting the Russian language the status of the state language. Then the radicals set fire to the regional House of Trade Unions, in which people took refuge. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, 48 people died in the riots, about 250 people were injured.
This day showed the whole world that Ukraine as a rule of law no longer exists. This is a country whose government adheres to the ideological views of neo-fascism. And confirmation of these words is the fact that until now the real perpetrators of this terrible tragedy have not been punished. Not only is the Ukrainian investigation, under the leadership of the leaders who came to power through a coup d’etat, doing everything to establish the version about the guilt of the victims themselves, who were in the House of Trade Unions – allegedly a fire broke out due to the fact that they threw from windows and from the roof Molotov cocktails, which is an absolute lie, for which there is a lot of evidence in documentary videos from that day.
Residents of Donbass are very close to this pain. I am convinced that all those responsible for the crimes committed against the people of Donbass and Odessa will be punished. We must remember this, for us this memory is sacred. Kingdom of heaven and blessed memory to all Heroes of New Russia!
Chairman of Board of
Interregional public organization
«Union of communities of Lugansk region» О.К.Akimov
_____________________________________________________
STATEMENT FROM CHERIANO LAGHETTO, ITALY: “REMEMBER ODESSA”
This year marks the seventh anniversary of the terrible tragedy that took place in Odessa (Ukraine) May 2, 2014. On that day, dozens of Odessa residents were killed and killed by Ukrainian nationalists.
Seven years later, this crime remains unsolved, the Ukrainian authorities continue to harbor criminals. The relatives and friends of those killed and injured lost all hopes for a fair investigation.
And attempts to perpetuate the memory of the victims are met with aggressive opposition from the nationalists coming out. The authorities of the state of Ukraine and the mayor’s office of Odessa took a wait-and-see attitude.
But there is a small town of Cheriano Laghetto in Italy, where people with a “big” heart and a courageous mayor named Dante Cattaneo live, who did not remain indifferent and did not fear threats from the Ukrainian Embassy in Italy, were appropriated, in November 2014, by one of the squares of the city named “Square of the Martyrs of Odessa”.
Every year since 2015, on May 2, residents of the town and its deputy mayor lay flowers at the memorial.
And this year they will come to the memorial again, lay flowers and freeze in a moment of silence.
Cheriano Laghetto (Italy)
May 2, 2021: Solidarity with the Anti-Fascist People of Ukraine
We’d like to invite all our friends and supporters to join us on Sunday, May 2, in a one-hour gesture of solidarity with the heroic anti-fascist people of Ukraine who are standing up to their U.S.-backed, right-wing government and the neo-Nazi organizations that support it.
Please check out the event on Facebook and consider marking yourself “Going” or “Interested.” Much appreciated!
May 9, 2020: Odessans celebrate 75th anniversary of victory over fascism!
May 2, 2020: Justice for the Victims of the Odessa Massacre!
May 2, 2020, marks the 6th anniversary of the fascist-led massacre of scores of progressives at the House of Trade Unions on Kulikovo Square in Odessa, Ukraine. To date, not one of the perpetrators of this heinous crime has been punished. The Ukrainian government has never allowed an independent international investigation. Relatives of the victims are still being repressed.
On this sacred day, the Odessa Solidarity Campaign joins with its friends and allies around the world to demand justice for the victims and their families.
We echo the words we saw scrawled on a wall in Odessa:
WE DO NOT FORGET – WE DO NOT FORGIVE!”
For more information, please read through the posts on this website. Share the information, and help build the movement for Justice.
REMEMBER ODESSA MAY 2!
Odessa Solidarity Campaign Report:
MAY 2 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ODESSA
In a major breakthrough for the people of Odessa, Ukraine, a United Nations human rights monitoring mission has criticized the Ukrainian government for its failure to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the fascist-led massacre of scores of people on May 2, 2014, at the city’s House of Trade Unions.
The U.N. “Briefing Note” was issued on the fifth anniversary of the massacre, when vigils were held across Europe and North America as part of an International Day of Solidarity with the People of Odessa.
And in a major departure from the near-total media whiteout of the issue in the U.S. media, an Associated Press story on the U.N. report was carried by media outlets across the United States and beyond, including The Washington Post, ABC News, Yahoo! News, (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, Houston Chronicle, Seattle TImes and the (UK) Telegraph and Daily Mail.
This doesn’t mean there will be an impartial investigation, but it does help to shine a light on the massacre and the government’s failure to act.
The International Day of Solidarity, coordinated by the Odessa Solidarity Campaign (USA) and Prague Spring II (Sweden), included solidarity vigils in Berlin, Budapest, Donetsk, London, Moscow, New York City, Prague, Stockholm, Vancouver, Vienna and Wroclaw, among other cities.
In Washington, D.C., a delegation from the Odessa Solidarity Campaign, along with members of Struggle/La Lucha, held a vigil outside the Ukrainian Embassy and then hand-delivered a letter to embassy staff addressed to Ukrainian President-Elect Volodymyr Zelenksy. The letter urged the incoming president, who overwhelmingly defeated the ultra-nationalist incumbent, Petro Poroshenko, to break with the reactionary policies of his predecessor and agree to allow an international investigation into the massacre, as well as end the ongoing repression of relatives of those who died in the trade union building fire and journalists attempting to investigate the tragedy.
Meanwhile, police in Odessa reported that 4,500 people came out for that city’s fifth annual memorial. Among those attending was Joe Lombardo, co-coordinator of the United National Antiwar Coalition and a member of the Advisory Board of the Odessa Solidarity Campaign. (See Joe’s report HERE.)
For ongoing news and analysis about developments in Ukraine, see https://odessasolidaritycampaign.org and the Odessa Solidarity Campaign Facebook page.
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Photos from some of the May 2 solidarity vigils.
More photos will be posted as received.
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AP story on the U.N. report:
Full U.N. “Briefing Note”:
Letter to President-Elect Volodymyr Zelensky:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nyCnGb90ARTm3kAvyR5UAjPE_zAH7Hog/view
Video of the delivery of letter to President-Elect Volodymyr Zelensky:
https://ruptly.tv/en/videos/20190503-001
Joe Lombardo’s report from Odessa:
http://nepajac.org/rpt.htm?fbclid=IwAR02g0qGZkLfNgxsMoPUl1ZK5iOVoEnXV_pxKd4QPEVHxyPZ-Rq84Gtz93Q
MAY 2 UPDATE (4.28.19):
This May 2 will mark five years since a fascist-led mob attacked and set fire to the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine, causing the deaths of at least 42 people with more than 100 injured.
As part of an International Day of Solidarity with the People of Odessa, a vigil will be held from noon to 1 p.m. May 2 outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C., supporting the demand of relatives of those killed for an international investigation into the massacre, something that has never happened.
Members of the U.S.-based Odessa Solidarity Campaign will deliver a letter to Ukraine’s newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, urging him to abandon the ultra-nationalist policies of his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, and agree to finally allow the truth to emerge about the tragic events of May 2, 2014. The letter also will call for an end to the political repression of the relatives and of journalists investigating the tragedy.
Among those planning to attend the vigil are members of the Embassy Protective Collective, the group of activists now protecting the Embassy of Venezuela from the threat of an illegal occupation by opponents of the legitimate administration of Nicolas Maduro. Following the Odessa vigil, activists will gather at the Venezuelan Embassy for a presentation by OSC coordinator Phil Wilayto on the similarities between the U.S. interventions in Venezuela and Ukraine.
The massacre on May 2, 2014, came just months after the democratically elected president was forced out of office in a violent U.S.-backed coup under circumstances similar to what we are now seeing unfold in Venezuela.
Many cellphone videos of the attack have been posted on the Internet, clearly showing people setting the five-story union building on fire with Molotov cocktails. People can be seen jumping from the burning windows and being beaten to death when they hit the ground. But, to date, not one of the perpetrators of these murderous actions has been brought to justice. At the same time, survivors from the arson as well as several of their sympathizers were arrested. Many of them are still in prison, never having been charged with a crime.
Family members, friends and supporters of the victims and survivors have repeatedly held memorials at the site of the killings, demanding an international investigation leading to prosecution of those responsible. Each year on May 2, thousands of Odessans gather there, despite repeated threats by neo-Nazi organizations to attack the mourners. And each year solidarity actions are held in cities around the world to support the people of Odessa in their demand for an international investigation and an end to the harassment and legal repression of survivors of the May 2 tragedy, of their relatives and supporters, and of journalists attempting to investigate the tragedy.
The Washington vigil is sponsored by the Odessa Solidarity Campaign in solidarity with many other actions planned for that day in other cities, including Vienna, London, Budapest and Moscow.
The Sweden-based organization Prague Spring II has posted the call for international May 2 actions in English, German, Russian and Swedish: https://solidaritywithodessa.wordpress.com
NOTE: Odessa activists are asking that supporters post one of their poster images on their Facebook page (change your profile photo for the day or longer), and on Instagram, Twitter, etc. The images are available here: https://odessasolidaritycampaign.org/
For more information, visit http://www.OdessaSolidarityCampaign.org, Odessa Solidarity Campaign on Facebook, email DefendersFJE@hotmail.com or call 1-804-644-5834.
A CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS ON THE 5th MEMORIAL DAY OF THE ATTACK ON THE HOUSE OF TRADE UNIONS IN ODESSA, UKRAINE
May 2, 2019, will mark five years since a right-wing mob attack on the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine, a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of at least 42 people and more than 100 injured. Today there still is no justice in sight for the mourners of the victims.
Those deaths on May 2, 2014, came just months after the democratically elected president was forced out of office by politicians, mass protests and violent right-wing organizations. This resulted in growing tensions in Odessa over several weeks, which culminated with street clashes and the mob attack on the House of Trade Unions.
Many cellphone videos of the attack have been posted on the Internet, clearly showing people setting the union building on fire with Molotov cocktails. People can be seen jumping from the burning windows and dying when falling to the ground. People laying on the asphalt and those trying to escape were severely beaten with bats and other weapons.
To date, not one of the perpetrators of these murderous actions has been brought to justice. At the same time, survivors from the arson as well as several of their sympathizers were arrested and many of them are still in prison, many never having been charged with a crime.
Family members, friends and supporters of the victims and survivors have repeatedly held memorials at the site of the killings, demanding an international investigation leading to prosecution of those responsible. Each year on May 2, thousands of Odessans gather there, despite repeated threats by extreme right-wing organizations to attack the mourners.
We call on all those who value justice to hold local events on May 2 in solidarity with the people of Odessa and in support of their demand for an international investigation.
We further call for an end to the harassment and legal repression of survivors of the May 2 tragedy, of their relatives and supporters, and of journalists attempting to investigate the situation.
This Call has been initiated by the Odessa Solidarity Campaign (USA) and Prague Spring II (Europe).
TO ENDORSE THIS CALL, PLEASE WRITE:
DefendersFJE@hotmail.com
HOW TO ORGANIZE A MAY 2 ACTION:
We want to emphasize that any kind of action would be welcome: a rally, march, public meeting, vigil – or even just a few people standing on a busy street corner with signs. The idea is to have something, no matter how modest, happening in as many cities as possible.
Here are 9 POSTERS you can download and print out on 11″ x 17″ paper or card stock. The square “REMEMBER ODESSA” icon is good for Instagram posts and profile images. Two of the poster images can be adapted as well: one plain so you add your own message, one with a solid black background. Click here to view and download.
Also, at the memorials in Odessa, people carry flowers and release black balloons into the air. Carrying flowers and releasing black balloons would be seen as acts of solidarity.
It would also be helpful to carry a sign about Odessa in a May Day march or rally on May 1 – anything to bring attention to the massacre and the current situation in Odessa.
Finally, please take a photo of your action and send it (as a jpeg or pdf file) to: DefendersFJE@hotmail.com. We will post the photos on the Odessa Solidarity Campaign website.
Don’t forget to include:
- the place where the action took place;
- the name of the organization or organizations sponsoring the action (optional);
- the name of the photographer, for credit for taking the photo (optional).
THANK YOU!
Odessa Solidarity Campaign 