On Friday, April 8, Hamilton students and professors joined members of the local Clinton community at the “Protest for Ukraine and Democracy”. The Kirkland Democrats, a local organization that works “towards legislation based on progressive moral values, in our local community, state, and nation” planned and organized the rally. In the past, the organization coordinated similar events for Black Lives Matter and environmental causes.

The Hamilton chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) sent an email to the Hamilton Community regarding the protest on Thursday, April 7. The email encouraged students to “bring posters, signs, flags, & honk your car horn in support of Ukraine and Democracy.”

Vesa Miftari ’24, co-chair of YDSA, and Jack Diligent ’23, Communications Liaison of YDSA, explained that Vige Barrie, Hamilton College Director of Media Relations, notified the YDSA of the protest because they hosted the “Candles for Ukraine” vigil on Thursday, March 3.

The event took place on the Clinton Village Green and around 30 people attended. Attendees gathered with signs and flags, shared information about their efforts to help the Ukrainian people and honked their horns as they drove by.

Diligent noted that members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Volodymyr the Great attended the rally. The church has been raising money by selling pierogi. They plan to use this money to help the people of Ukraine. According to the pastor of the church, they have raised $40,000. They will be taking a break for two weeks during Easter, but YDSA hopes to volunteer with them afterwards to help in their efforts.

Students also spoke to people with personal connections to the war. One attendee’s brother is currently in Ukraine, and YDSA members talked to him about his and his brothers’ experiences in Ukraine.

Miftari reflected that “it was a really great event. The Kirkland Democrats were grateful for our support, and we also want to express that we’re grateful to them for taking the initiative to host the event and to everyone else who attempted to help out during the crisis.”

Diligent added “it was nice to see a bunch of other people who care about this thing that we also care about and to make connections to other ways we can possibly help more in the future.”

When asked about YDSA’s involvement with Friday’s protest and general focus on the war in Ukraine, Miftari answered, “a major part of YDSA is anti-imperialism, sovereignty…people having their own rights considered and focusing on the will of the people instead of the will of the elites, especially in Russia…and especially in Ukraine where a lot of their democratic rights and their sovereignty is being threatened. As YDSA, it is our obligation to do what we can to ensure that not just for people in America, but worldwide.”

YDSA is currently planning to put together a newsletter with various ways for students to help with the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Furthermore, the organization is looking into ways for college students to volunteer their time to help Ukrainian refugees practice English online. They are also working with professors to find ways for students to speak with Ukrainian people and act as a support system during these times. In the future, YDSA plans to hold Ukrainian movie screenings and other events to recognize the culture of Ukraine and support organizations through donations.