Hundreds gather at Utah Capitol for ‘Stand With Ukraine’ rally
Feb 28, 2022, 9:44 PM | Updated: Jun 7, 2022, 2:51 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of people gathered at the Utah Capitol Monday for a “Stand With Ukraine” rally.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is breathtaking,” said Gov. Spencer Cox to a crowd that spilled onto the south lawn.
The governor and others organized the rally Sunday and put out the word that Utah stands with Ukraine.
Please join us tomorrow. Let’s flood the Capitol and show the world our support for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. https://t.co/YAs4wuixwu
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) February 27, 2022
“I am here because my heart is just broken for the people of Ukraine and for the Russian people that are thrown into this,” said Shelby Castleton.
This is Castleton’s first time attending a rally.
“For me, it was important to come because it’s just blatantly wrong, no questions asked, just blatantly wrong,” she said.
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson told a passionate crowd, “We’ll stand with anyone that has the courage to stand up to a bitter tyrant.”
At times, the crowd chanted “Ukraine, Ukraine,” and at others, they chanted “Zelensky” in support of the Ukraine president who is proving to be the wartime president his country has needed to face Putin.
Local singers gave emotional renditions of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, while a makeshift Ukrainian flag was unfurled over part of the crowd.
#STANDWITHUKRAINE #Utahstandswithukraine 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/Hri30d39lB
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) March 1, 2022
Before two closing prayers, Cox said, “Might we pledge our lives and our souls to uniting and joining them in the fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Following the rally, schools, buildings and hillsides across the state, including the Capitol, were illuminated in blue and yellow.
The #Utah @UTStateCapitol is illuminated in blue and yellow tonight in support of #Ukraine. My colleague @DebbieWorthen will have a story on the rally held here for our @KSL5TV 10pm newscast. #ksltv pic.twitter.com/73zrvnkggW
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) March 1, 2022
