Dear Organizers of the Concert for Ukraine in Birmingham, England:

We are supporters of Ukraine from around the world and we respectfully call on you to allow/invite Ukrainian band Antytila to perform - remotely from Ukraine - at the Concert for Ukraine to be held on March 29, 2022 at the Resort World Arena in Birmingham, England.

Earlier this week, members of Antytila posted a heartfelt video message expressing appreciation and excitement about the concert and asking for the opportunity to play remotely from Kyiv at the event.  It was subsequently reported that the concert organizers denied the band members' request because the concert has a purely humanitarian purpose and the members are currently serving in the Ukrainian military.

Respectfully, it is rather short-sighted for the concert organizers to insinuate that the current endeavors of the members of Antytila are incompatible with a humanitarian purpose.  Protecting people's lives is in fact a humanitarian purpose and that is exactly what these young men are doing.  If it wasn't for the Ukrainian military, there would have been even more casualties in Ukraine than there currently are and Putin would have already stolen this country.  Before Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the members of Antytila were musicians, not soldiers.  They joined the military for the sole purpose of protecting and defending their people and their country from Putin's onslaught.  They are risking their lives to protect others' lives and they should be praised and lauded for that, not excluded.  Furthermore, we think it would be very uplifting to the Ukrainian people to see a band from their country included in the concert. 

We appreciate your efforts in organizing this concert but respectfully ask you to reconsider your ill-informed decision regarding Antytila.  Thank you very much.