It was a warm day, the sky was blue, and the sun shone brightly, like the yellow blue flags blowing in the wind. Students and residents of Bloomington gathered in solidarity at Indiana University, awaiting to march against the invasion of Ukraine. Flags and signs were in hand, some saying, “Nato Please Block The Sky Over Ukraine,” “End The War in Ukraine,” and “It’s Ukraine not Your-Kraine Mr. Putin.

            The journey had begun. The estimated crowd of a hundred moved in sync, step by step from Showalter Fountain to Sample Gates. Students reached for their phones to document the size of the crowd. Cars and buses honked as they passed in solidarity.

            There were no chants. The crowd was peaceful making a statement with their very presence. Once they arrived at Sample Gates the marchers formed a circle. A young woman led the group in singing the national anthem of Ukraine. There was a spirit of patriotism and pride in the air.

            Georgia Hmelidze, 22, was among the crowd with a Ukrainian flag draped over his body, holding a sign “Nato Please Block The Sky Over Ukraine.” Hmelidze felt it was important to march exemplifying to Americans that Ukrainians need their support.

“I think it’s important to first raise awareness and encourage people in the U.S. to rightly represent this. People are losing lives countlessly. We ask the United States and the European Union to help us, at least block the sky over Ukraine.”

      In the midst of the crowd were students of various cultural backgrounds. The marchers displayed that the invasion of Ukraine is a global issue, affecting many beyond the seas. Ani Abrahamyan, 28, Armenian student and organizer of the march is not of Ukrainian descent, but stood with the Ukrainian people as her own.

           “I have gone through two wars in the Republic of Artsakh, (Nagorno-Karabakh) so for me it is very important for me to always stand for what I believe in. As a young scholar and someone who studies in the United States, I have the ability to help people abroad get their story across. The story is always the same, we don’t want war, we don’t want to die, and we want a peaceful sky over our heads.”

              Nika Zakaraia, 22, represented his country proudly, bearing the colors red and white, as he marched with the Georgian flag like a cloak. “I’m from the country of Georgia. In 2008 my country was invaded by Russia, and I personally lived through the war as well. I know what it is to fight against such a big country and I’m trying to support my Ukrainian brethren in any way I can.”

                Although Zakaraia has endured war, the invasion of Ukraine was shocking spurring memories. of his own. “I have friends and family members living in Ukraine especially in Kyiv. In my country we follow the news that has to do with Russia, because people in my country are once again in danger because what if they invade us tomorrow next? To be honest I couldn’t really sleep for two or three nights,” said Zakaraia.

                While some prepared for bed, setting their alarms, Ukrainians awakened to the sound  of bombs, shaking their reality.  Katya Chomitzky, 27, says she was left almost in a trance-like state by the invasion of Ukraine, feeling as if her soul was in another place. “I remember being on campus getting a call from a dear friend that his grandparents and my family’s town, Stryi had just been bombed. I was walking around campus. Everybody will say I was walking like a ghost. I was on the phone with my mom saying, “It was just supposed to be the East.” Not that it makes it any better, but the fact that the bombing on day one was the whole country was horrendous.”

                            Despite sorrow, the world has witnessed the resilience of Ukrainians.When asked what is fueling their strength, Chomitzky said, “I think the passion for the country and seeing all of our people turn out wanting to support their family is what’s building it.”

                              The crowd of students and residents stood in a circle with signs and flags, singing the anthem of Ukraine. There was a spirit of patriotism flowing while voices rang. They sung in unison the words “Ще не вмерла України і слава, і воля,” translating to “Ukraine’s glory has not perished, nor freedom, nor will,” a clarion call of strength.