This Sunday, Harry Bridges Plaza was flooded with blue and yellow as nearly 500 people from across the Bay Area gathered to show their unwavering support for Ukraine. Organized in less than 24 hours, the rally was a direct response to recent drastic events that shocked and alarmed the civilized world. Many Americans of non-Ukrainian descent attended the event, expressing their outrage at the recent statements from the Oval Office, which they perceived as a betrayal of democratic values and an inconceivable encouragement of Russian aggression.
The event was moderated by Igor Tregub, an elected member of the Berkeley City Council, who delivered a powerful speech. He emphasized the importance of broad civic engagement and advocacy at this critical time, urging attendees to call their representatives and demand continued support for Ukraine.
“I may be the first Ukrainian-American elected official in the Berkeley City Council,” Tregub stated, “but I know I won’t be the last. Today, we stand here not just as Ukrainians, but as Americans who believe in democracy.”
Tregub reminded the crowd that prominent California politicians, including Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Matt Haney, and State Senator Jesse Arreguín, had already voiced their unwavering support for Ukraine. “Ukrainians are bravely fighting on the front line of democracy so that we here can still live in a democratic society,” he continued. Reflecting on his Jewish heritage, Tregub emphasized the lessons of history: “Right now, we are feeling an acute sense of intergenerational trauma because we have seen this ‘movie’ before, and it did not end well. Appeasement does not work. Standing up to tyrants, fighting genocidal maniacs like Putin – that is the only choice!”
Calling for action, Tregub urged attendees to contact their congressional representatives through the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121. “Until recently, support for Ukraine was a bipartisan issue – and I believe it still is,” he stressed. “But they need to hear from us. They need to hear from you. They need to hear from America.”
Freedom Cannot Be Bargained Away
Another key speaker was Nataliya Anon, a civic activist and founder of the Ukrainian-American media platform Vilni Media. She emphasized that Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty is a broader fight for freedom, justice, and human dignity.
“We gather here today because Ukraine’s struggle against a brutal aggressor is the embodiment of freedom,” she declared. “Freedom is not something to be gambled away at the negotiating table. It is not a commodity to be traded. It is a fundamental value for which generations of Americans and Ukrainians have fought and shed their blood.”
Anon reminded the audience that the American Revolution was long and exhausting, in stark contrast to the expectation that the war in Ukraine would end in three days. “Many graduates of elite universities like Yale seem to forget that the U.S. fought for its freedom for eight long years – and without France’s support, it would have been unattainable,” she stressed.
Commenting on the tense meeting between President Zelensky and American leaders, Anon was categorical: “What we witnessed was an ambush. It was not only unfair; it was a violation of diplomatic protocol and, frankly, a disgrace. When you invite someone into your home, you treat them with hospitality and respect – not try to break them down.”
Ukraine Is Not for Sale
One of the most emotional moments came from Jackie Elward, former Mayor of Rohnert Park and a City Councilmember, who stood proudly at the podium, dressed in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
“You are strong, your people are strong, you have allies all over the world,” she told the crowd. “I am from the Democratic Republic of Congo. My people are going through what your people are going through. That is why I needed to stand by your side. Because that’s what we do – we stand and fight together.”
Elward stressed the importance of preserving Ukrainian identity. “Ukraine has a culture that must be kept alive. Ukrainians are a beautiful people. This land is the land of the free, but we must also ensure that Ukraine keeps its freedom. Ukraine is not for sale!”
Global Solidarity
Lynn – an American from the Bay Area who was undeterred by crutches or a leg in a cast – addressed those gathered, explaining that she had something important to say to Ukrainians.
“I’ve come here to speak as an ordinary American. I have no personal, family, or professional ties to Ukraine. But I believe it is my duty to support you. I did not vote for Donald Trump to turn his back on our bravest, strongest Western ally and effectively hand it over to Russia. Nor did I vote to abandon 80 years of U.S. foreign policy and side with dictators and invaders instead of the free world!” Lynn stressed, calling President Zelensky’s humiliation in the Oval Office “the most repulsive and shameful day in Americans’ lives.”
Lynn posed a rhetorical question about whether Americans are ready to live in a world “where Trump hands Ukraine over to Putin.” “What comes next? Putin will invade the Baltic countries, and then move on to Poland and Finland – all NATO nations. Don’t let anyone convince you we would still be safe here. Any American who believes that is naive and doesn’t know the history of the 20th century,” Lynn warned. “Trump wants to appease Russia just as Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler – and how did that work out?” She is certain that if Putin is not stopped now, everyone risks being drawn into a Third World War.
Among the crowd stood a group of Georgians – a nation deeply connected to Ukraine – draped in the white and red flags of Sakartvelo. Among them, Koba, a Georgian man living in San Francisco, stood out. His presence was a stark reminder that Ukraine’s struggle resonates deeply with the history of his own homeland.
“I came to support Ukraine. It’s the same situation as in my country,” he said. “We know that Russia will not stop unless people show their power. And the most important thing is that the Ukrainian people today are incredibly strong and courageous.”
Standing next to the Georgians was a group of local Americans, engaging in a passionate discussion about history’s lessons:
Stephen: “Appeasement didn’t work in the Second World War, and it’s not going to work now.”
Elizabeth: “America must remember its own values.”
Stephen: “Yes! We need to study history. If we understand the history of 20th-century Europe and the nature of fascism, we will see that many people today have already forgotten the real dangers of this. If we don’t remember, it will repeat itself.”
Chris: “Giving land to dictators is not a solution. They always demand more. The only way to stop them is with force. And you can’t negotiate with a lion when your head is in its mouth. Trump is a coward. He wants a world where big countries take over small ones and steal their resources.”
Then, the entire square sang in unison with the Ukrainians. The rally ended with a powerful rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem. As the last note faded into the cool San Francisco air, the clock on the iconic tower struck its first resounding chime – almost as if it had been waiting for the solemn moment to pass before marking time once more. With raised flags, powerful voices, and unshaken determination, the community sent a clear message: Ukraine is not for sale, and independence from tyrants is an axiom worth fighting for.
Author: Lukian Selskyi
Thanks for photos: Daniel Vegera - https://www.instagram.com/danielvegera/
