Nearly 150 people attended this Friday evening at the rally in support of the Ukrainian peopleorganized Place de la République in Orléans. Several elected officials from all sides were there : the mayor LR of Orléans, Serge Grouard, the socialist president of the Regional Council, François Bonneau or even Carole Canette and Christophe Chaillou, the socialist mayors of Fleury-les-Aubrais and Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle. Alongside them, representatives of the CGT or the Unef.
– Patricia May
In the crowd too, many citizens said to themselves “shocked” by the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. ” We cannot tolerate a single man deciding to invade a country. We all have in mind what Hitler did at the start of the Second World War. Stop Putin now” Explain Jacqueline, in her fifties. “I just came to defend peace, let everyone live peacefully. There is enough room on this earth for us all to live together” adds Alexandre who holds in his hands a sheet in the colors of Ukraine.
Ukrainians need to know they are not alone
– Patricia May
Vera arrived in the first on the place of assembly. For 10 years, this Ukrainian has lived in Fleury-les-Aubrais with her 3 children and her husband. But some of his family and friends are still in the country.” It is important that we mobilize here. Ukrainians need to know that they are not alone. We cannot help them physically or economically but we have to help them for morale“.
– Patricia May
I am obviously worried about my relatives in Ukraine
For Tetiana, also Ukrainian, living in Orléans since 2014, France and Europe must help his country materially. “I know very well that France is not going to send soldiers to Ukraine. But, it can help my fellow citizens to defend themselves, to resist“. The young woman has her whole family there, in a small town in the northwest of the country. “We try to talk to each other through social networks but it becomes difficult. There are bombing alerts and they must regularly reach the underground shelters. I’m obviously worried“. The young woman took advantage of the gathering in Orleans to sympathize and discuss with other Ukrainian nationals. This Saturday, she will be in Paris where a new large gathering is planned, Place de la République.