September 28, 2018

October 2, 1983

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Thirty-five years ago, on October 2, 1983, an estimated crowd of 18,000 people gathered at the Washington Monument in the nation’s capital to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Holodomor, known at the time as the Great Famine of 1932-1933, that killed millions of Ukrainians through forced starvation.

The two-and-a-half-hour rally included addresses by Morton Blackwell, a representative of President Ronald Reagan, and Rep. Don Ritter (R-Pa.). The speakers expressed sympathy with the Ukrainians and lauded the Ukrainian nation’s courage and continued resistance against Soviet Communist subjugation.

President Reagan stated: “…In a time when the entire world is outraged by the senseless murder of 269 passengers on Korean Airlines Flight 007, we must not forget that this kind of action is not new to the Soviet Union. That the dream of freedom lives on in the hearts of Ukrainians everywhere is an inspiration to each of us. I commend your participation in this special observance and the moral vision it represents. May it be a reminder to all of us of how fortunate we are to live in a land of freedom. …On this occasion, we acknowledge the terrible suffering and death that took place during the farm collectivization and subsequent forced famine and severe repression. That attempt to crush the life, will and spirit of a people by a totalitarian government still holds meaning for people around the world today.”

Rep. Ritter, who opened and closed his statement in Ukrainian, reminded: “…We are here to tell the story to the world of the people who suffered, the victims, the survivors. Yes we want the world to know about this crime against humanity, not that they may feel sympathy towards the victims… But even more important is that the world better understand that the disease of totalitarian control over people longing to be free is what creates holocausts. May the memory of those who died live on in our hearts and in the hearts of all Americans so that the flame of freedom for Ukraine will never die. Long live the flame of freedom. Glory to Ukraine!”

Pawlo Makar of Syracuse, N.Y., arrived by bus with parishioners from St. John Ukrainian Catholic and St. Luke Ukrainian Orthodox churches, told The Weekly: “As a 22-year-old student in the city [of Poltava], I saw the trucks coming around to pick up the corpses.
I saw death all around me. And through the years I have tried to spread the word about the Famine.”

The rally concluded with a protest near the Soviet Embassy. The D.C. Metro Police, who were expecting some 5,000 participants, were overwhelmed by the 18,000 Ukrainians who came to protest. The first to arrive at the Embassy was a 1,000-strong uniformed formation of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. Many of the groups were forced to fan out, as the crowd continued to swell.

Three days earlier, the Rev. Peter Galadza, a Chicago-area priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and the Rev. John Shep, a Lutheran minister from Madison, Wis., were arrested for disorderly conduct after serving a requiem service at the wrought iron gates of the Soviet Embassy during the Friday evening rush hour on September 29. Non-Ukrainian onlookers cheered the move by the clergy members as they were being arrested, boosting their morale. Even the police admitted they were reluctant to arrest the clerics.

More than 2,800 audience members attended a commemorative concert that was held at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on October 2. Performers included the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, the Ukrainian Chorus of Washington and the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.

The Holodomor was commemorated in Washington with other events during “Great Famine Memorial Week” (September 25 through October 2), and included a candlelight vigil near the Soviet Embassy, exhibits at the Russell Senate Office Building and at the Cannon House Office Building, a scholarly symposium at the American Enterprise Institute, as well as a special orders ceremony at the House of Representatives, followed by a reception in the Capitol building.

The Ukrainian Weekly issued a book marking the 50th anniversary of the Holodomor, titled “The Great Famine in Ukraine: The Unknown Holocaust,” which was published by the Ukrainian National Association.

Source: “18,000 attend famine memorial events in D.C.,” The Ukrainian Weekly, October 9, 1983.

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