Demonstration on Brighton Beach: when politics divides destinies

On May 9, for many years in a row, New Yorkers gathered on Brighton Beach to remember their relatives and heroes who died during World War II. And on May 9, 2024, when the holiday began to be called the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, the day was overshadowed by a provocative demonstration that caused a storm of emotions among Russian-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking residents of the area.
 
The events of recent years related to the war in Ukraine have left a deep imprint in the hearts of many, especially those who have roots in both Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainians fled the war, seeking to protect their lives and the future of their families. Russian-speaking residents who find themselves outside of Russia are forced to face circumstances related to their country's participation in the conflict.
In this context, holding a demonstration with a red flag, which featured a hammer and sickle, in Brighton, where there is a significant number of Russian-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking residents, and it is not surprising that Ukrainians stood in Brighton, next to CHASE Bank, with placards and waited for the Russian-speaking delegation. For Ukrainians, and not only others, the red flag is a symbol reminiscent of the terrible consequences of the war in their homeland, while for Russian speakers it can evoke painful memories of the war that divided peoples.
Many believe that holding such events on such a day and in such an area of New York only causes pain and discord among residents.
However, despite this incident, May 9 remains a symbol of unity and memory, when every family, be it Ukrainian, Russian or any other, remembers its heroes, paying tribute to those who fell in the fight for freedom and peace, stopping fascism. I hope that in the future, the people of Brighton Beach will be able to come together again in peace and harmony, regardless of political differences.
Marina Lagunova