Hundreds of people took part in a torchlight procession through Zaandam this evening. The participants wanted to put a heart to the Ukrainian population in this way.
The tour started around 7.30 pm in front of City Hall and went via the Russian Neighborhood to Dam Square. The statue of Czaar Peter was lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag and there was a minute of silence. The tour is organized by Fakkels voor Vrede, together with the municipality of Zaanstad.
“The images and messages on the radio do us a lot. Then you want to do something. This is of course very small. You don’t change anything with this. But it does indicate that there are many people in your own environment who think the same way “, said a man who is walking along in the tour.
‘Hope Putin watches’
“I think it’s terrible what’s going on,” says another participant of the tour. “In Russia you get 15 years in prison if you do something like that. We can be happy that we can make ourselves heard and that we support the Ukrainians.”
Another participant: “A lot of people are coming. Let’s hope Putin looks, but it probably won’t.”
Mayor Jan Hamming also attended. “The peoples are not opposed to each other, but the common people are the victims,” he said in a speech.
Check out more reactions from people who participated in the trip below. An extensive report of the parade will follow tomorrow morning