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Hands Off Ukraine
Photoessay: NYC’s Stand With Ukraine Rally in Times Square
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At around 1pm on Saturday March 5th, a sea of supporters pooled into Times Square in support of Ukraine, a few days after Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade that country. Eventually, the number of supporters stretched from the red steps of the TKTS building and lapsed into the triangle of land across 46th street, ensuring the rally included hundreds, likely thousands of individuals.
Supporters could be heard singing the Ukrainian national anthem and chanting “Hands off Ukraine,” “Close the skies,” “Save Ukraine,” “Glory to Ukraine,” and, often, “No fly zone,” as well as other slogans in both English and Ukrainian. Passing cars honked their support in return, some of them bearing Ukrainian flags, as well.
It was quite cold. In the low 40s but also windy. The supporters had to compete with the sometimes ear-shattering noise of jackhammers working construction immediately across Broadway, but compete they did, and after a while the jackhammers were silenced, though whether in support or according to schedule, I couldn’t tell you.
The signs were sometimes blunt and angry, telling Putin, for example, quite explicitly what he could do with himself or his warship.
