What is the issue? 

     Recently, Russia went to war with Ukraine based on political issues. This issue affects the whole world. People might think this only affects Ukraine and Russia but it also affects everyone else because we could go into a world war. It also takes a toll on the world economy which will cause prices to rise for everyone. We should care about this issue because it affects us all. The war also brings racial discrimination into Ukraine when Ukrainian authorities blocked people of African descent from leaving the country.

 

What caused the war?

   Russia and Ukraine have been in an ongoing war since 2014. This is because the dictator of Russia, Vladimir Putin, wants Ukraine to be part of Russia as it used to be. In February and March 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. They invaded it to get that land back that they had previously given to Ukraine. They succeeded and took it from Ukraine. On February 24th, 2022, Russia once again invaded Ukraine. On February 26th, they started their siege on Mariupol. President Volodimir Zelensky of Ukraine created a law where men between the ages of 18 and 60 need to stay in Ukraine to fight. Women, children, and the elderly may flee. However, people of color are reporting mistreatment from Ukrainian authorities while trying to flee Ukraine and are even blocked from leaving.   

 

Why are Ukrainian Authorities mistreating people of color?

       There is no straight answer to why Ukrainian authorities are mistreating foreigners. The only answer is racism. The authorities claim that they are trying to prioritize women and children from leaving and that's why foreigners are pushed aside. What’s wrong with the women and children who are foreigners? They shouldn’t be pushed aside, right? The Ukrainian authorities are finding an excuse to excuse their behavior. The cold hard truth is that there is still a lot of racism in the world that needs to end. Africans who had been living in Ukraine had to endure long waits at crossings to neighboring countries huddled together without food or shelter, stopped by Ukrainian Authorities, who put them in long lines, even beat them. Chineye Mbagwu, a 24-year-old doctor from Nigeria who lived in the western Ukrainian town of Ivano-Frankivsk, said she spent 2 days at the Russia-Ukraine border.

 

Who can make a change?

         We are targeting Ukrainian authorities. They are the ones who are responsible for the mistreatment of foreigners. How can we make a change? More importantly, who can make a change? Well, we can all do our part to help end racial injustice by signing this petition. The goal is to make the petition seen by people of higher power to help result in this situation. Helping this issue will take us one step closer to abolishing racial discrimination globally. If this is left unsolved, people will continue to be mistreated in Ukraine. It will be harder for foreigners to leave and they will be left to die. As human beings, we should have the decency to treat everyone equally no matter what our biases may be. This affects us on a personal level as well. Knowing some people are left to die because of the color of their skin is unsettling. Ukrainians didn’t ask for this to happen. They didn’t want war. At least let all of them leave. It’s to the point where these foreigners have to leave illegally to save themselves. They shouldn’t feel the need to run and hide anymore like they used to. They should feel safe like white people do. They will never feel that way if it continues. The simple solution to this problem is to simply let them leave. Let them be free like everyone else. Let them save themselves. 

 

#BLM

#STOPRACIALINJUSTICE

#STANDUP

#INJUSTICEINUKRAINE 

#FREEDOM