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HOUGHTON -- As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth month, residents held a silent vigil outside Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton Saturday to draw attention to the toll it has taken on Ukrainians.
Rolling silent vigils were held worldwide Saturday as part of the "Silent Widows" protest; Houghton took center stage at 3 p.m. As a violinist played, veiled women dressed in black took the part of Ukrainian widows, while bandaged men lay on the ground as Ukrainian soldiers.
The global protest was organized by Women For Ukraine, Underdog Ukraine and Action With Ukraine.
"Usually, our protests are from the world trying to bring support into Ukraine," said Yoopers for Ukraine co-founder Nadija Packauskas. "And this is them trying to bring support from outside and letting those widows and widowers know that the entire world is mourning with them."
While there is no official tally of how many Ukrainian soldiers have died, last month Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 100 to 200 were being killed per day as hostilities increased.
Packauskas reacted particularly strongly to the news of Russians taking Ukrainian children. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said 900,000 to 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens, including 260,000 children, living in Russian-controlled areas had been deported to Russia.
U.S. House Resolution 1205 would formally recognize Russian actions as a genocide. The bill was introduced last month and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"Every American should have a vested interest in Ukraine, because they are absolutely holding the frontline for democracy," Packauskas said.
Amina Lafreniere of Hancock was adopted from Ukraine four years ago. Her relatives live in the western part of Ukraine, which has been taking in refugees from parts of the country.
"It's heartbreaking," she said. "It's important that everybody there is OK, and will be ... I don't watch it as much, because it's kind of hard to watch."
Lafreniere said Sunday's protest could ehlp demonstrate the reality of the situation.
"It's important to show people what's going on, and make them understand, and maybe invite them with us to help Ukraine," she said.