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London Stands With Ukraine

  • Jo Siedlecka

Mayor Sadiq Khan with Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski  (Image: Ukrainian Cathedral)

Mayor Sadiq Khan with Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski (Image: Ukrainian Cathedral)

There was a sea of blue and yellow flags in central London on Saturday, as many thousands took part in a huge march and rally, to show their support for Ukraine.

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, from the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of the Holy Family of London walked at the front of the march with Mayor Sadiq Khan. He told ICN: "As the 'London Stands With Ukraine' march was about to begin, Mayor Sadiq Khan reminded everyone that the march was the way Londoners were responding to Ukraine's President Zelensky's call to fill the streets and town squares to show support for Ukraine. At the invitation of London's mayor tens of thousands of people joined the march and the rally at Trafalgar Square standing in support with Ukraine!

"As I walked with our mayor holding the banner, which reminded everybody why we were making this important sign of solidarity, I was filled with appreciation of the solidarity that Londoners were showing the world! In this day and age of fake news and the weaponization of information, Londoners by their words and actions that day under the leadership of Sadiq Khan showed a very powerful sign of unity. I was grateful to be able to walk with our mayor and the tens of thousands who joined us."

Among the speakers on the stage in Trafalgar Square, were MP David Lammy, Chair of the London Assembly Andrew Boff, President of the Trades Union Congress Sue Fearns and actress Emma Thompson.

Cheers rang out through the square as a message from Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky was played.

Speaking on his iphone from a bomb shelter, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, told the crowds: "Please keep together with our country, keep together with Ukraine."

In his address, Sadiq Khan condemned Russia's "barbaric aggression." He said: "Londoners over the last few weeks have shown that we're opening our arms to Ukrainian refugees, whether it's by donating money to those charities doing a brilliant job in Ukraine or by opening our homes to those fleeing Ukraine. It is important throughout the next few days, weeks to make it far, far easier for those who are fleeing Ukraine to come here. You compare our Government's actions versus the actions of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, it's embarrassing. We've got to be doing much more."

Mr Khan announced more than £1.1m in funding to support migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum in London.

Fr Dominic Robinson SJ Parish Priest at Farm Street Church and Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace said: "It was wonderful to be part of this show of solidarity from the people of London who came out in their thousands to march for peace and justice in Ukraine and to show that the Church is right behind the Ukrainian people in their urgent need."

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