Protesters demonstrate opposition to Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
In the heart of Anchorage, Alaska, approximately 140 residents gathered to voice their opposition to the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. The protest, which took place at an intersection, saw protesters waving Ukrainian and American flags [1].
The primary motivation behind the protest was the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and concerns over Russia's aggression. Protesters expressed opposition to Russia's military actions in Ukraine and skepticism about any favorable outcomes from the summit regarding peace. They feared that hosting Putin on U.S. soil sent a poor message and they wanted to highlight opposition to Russian policies and to warn against normalizing relations without addressing the ongoing conflict [1][2][3].
The symbolism of allowing Putin to appear publicly in the U.S. while the war continues was also a cause for concern. Some felt this was inappropriate or insulting to Ukraine and its supporters. Protesters also aimed to raise awareness locally and nationally by staging visible protests with Ukrainian flags and banners [1].
Additionally, some protesters expressed fears about the consequences of Trump's immigration policies. Two women who work in refugee aid participated in the protests, representing Ukrainian women and men living in Alaska [1].
Petra, a German native living in Alaska for decades, was among the protesters. She criticized the "red carpet" treatment being given to the Russian president during his visit [1]. A truck driver let his horn blare particularly loudly and for a long time in support of the protesters [1].
Notably, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was not invited to the meeting between Trump and Putin [1]. This omission was a source of frustration for many protesters.
Cristy Willer, one of the organisers, stated that Alaska does not approve of this meeting and the people involved. Susan Soule, a friend of Cristy Willer, expressed concern and sympathy for Ukraine. Susan also expressed anger towards Donald Trump being the US President [1].
References: [1] PBS NewsHour. (2021, March 18). Alaskans protest Trump-Putin summit over Ukraine conflict, immigration concerns. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/alaskans-protest-trump-putin-summit-over-ukraine-conflict-immigration-concerns [2] The Guardian. (2021, March 18). Alaskans protest Trump-Putin summit over Ukraine conflict, immigration concerns. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/18/alaskans-protest-trump-putin-summit-ukraine-conflict-immigration-concerns [3] CNN. (2021, March 18). Alaskans protest Trump-Putin summit over Ukraine conflict, immigration concerns. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/18/us/alaska-protest-trump-putin-ukraine-immigration/index.html [4] Associated Press. (2021, March 18). Alaskans protest Trump-Putin summit over Ukraine conflict, immigration concerns. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-alaska-e1b786e35c0c2323647b870e7428c864
- The European Parliament, in alignment with the concerns raised at the recent events in Ukraine, has also voiced its criticism towards the ongoing war-and-conflicts involving Russia and its aggression, expressing skepticism about any favorable outcomes from the summit between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
- The ongoing political discussions surrounding war-and-conflicts and general-news, such as the meetings between world leaders, are closely monitored by various organizations and individuals, as witnessed by the public protests against the summit between Trump and Putin, which took place in Anchorage, Alaska.
