Hands Off Ukraine
Photoessay: NYC’s Stand With Ukraine Rally in Times Square
Note: Click on any image to view a larger version
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.
It’s worth noting then that many of these signs tended — either explicitly or implicitly — to put the blame for this war squarely on Vladimir Putin, not necessarily upon Russia or the Russian people.
Some of Times Square’s towering billboards had been adjusted to display the colors of the Ukrainian flag in support of the Ukrainian people. So it was somewhat surreal to see people cheer the massive square of neon dedicated to promoting the American Eagle Outfitters store across the street, when its colors switched to a supportive Ukrainian yellow.
Many also expressed support from neighboring countries, including people carrying Polish, Chechnyan, Georgian, Kazakh and even Russian flags or signs.
I exited Times Square after taking photos there for over two hours, my fingers numbed from the cold. The rally was still going strong.
All photos by Robert A Stribley // @stribs
