Ukrainian activists in the US have announced peaceful protests over a planned performance by Russian violinist Vadim Repin with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra in Maryland. Representatives of Arts Against Aggression said that they plan to hold actions near Maryland Hall and inside the concert venue after the orchestra, according to them, did not respond to an open letter, a petition with more than 800 signatures, numerous appeals from the community and a call from the Embassy of Ukraine to cancel the performance.
This was reported by Arts Against Aggression.
Arts Against Aggression co-founder Dmitry Smelyansky has sent an official notice to the Governor of Maryland, the Mayor of Annapolis, elected officials, the Maryland Hall administration, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, media representatives, and the Annapolis police about the preparation of large-scale peaceful protests in connection with the planned performance of Russian violinist Vadim Repin with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO).
According to the organizers, the protests will take place both near the concert venue and inside Maryland Hall, using legal forms of peaceful protest.
The appeal notes that for several months the Ukrainian community has been trying to achieve the cancellation of the concert through dialogue. An open letter, petition, signed by over 800 people, numerous electronic appeals, as well as an official appeal from the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States were sent to the orchestra administration. At the same time, according to the authors of the letter, these appeals have remained unanswered.
“This systematic disregard for our community’s deeply held values and diplomatic sensitivities regarding state-sponsored cultural figures during an ongoing war leaves us with no choice but to intensify our advocacy campaign,” the statement reads.
Organizers say the protests are intended to draw attention to Russia’s war crimes and to remember Ukrainian cultural figures who have died as a result of Russian aggression.
“Through these protests, the orchestra and its audience will learn more about the war crimes committed by the Putin regime, represented at Maryland Hall by its cultural ambassador, violinist Vadim Repin. They will also experience at least some of the reality that Ukrainian civilians face every day under Russian missile and drone attacks. About 300 Ukrainian artists and cultural figures killed by Russia will be symbolically present at our protest,” the organizers note.
The letter also emphasizes that cultural institutions are responsible for who they give a stage to.
“We believe that cultural institutions are responsible for the ethical consequences of who they give a platform to. By inviting an artist who has close ties to the current Russian regime, the ASO is deliberately choosing to ignore the concerns of the Ukrainian-American community and the wider public,” the statement says.
The organizers called on officials and the management of the concert venue to intervene in the conduct of the concert, emphasizing that they intend to ensure the peaceful and lawful nature of all planned actions.
Copies of the appeal were also sent to US Senators Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks and House Member Sarah Efrat.
Photo: AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT
Author: Inna Mikhno