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PICTURED: The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard wrapped with the colors of Ukraine’s national flag on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Photo by Denis O’Leary

When a group of people in Oxnard were planning a rally in support of the people of Ukraine, and only four people showed up for it, “What do you do?” said Denis O’Leary, a retired Oxnard resident. 

“ The idea of having to die for democracy just really, really killed me and I just was so heartbroken,” said Lucy Cartagena, an Oxnard resident. “I just wanted to show our solidarity for Ukraine and the movement, that we are here and feel for them here miles away.”

“Lucy [Cartagena] inspired it,” said O’Leary. “We are the largest city in the tri-counties and we need to say something.”  Instead of a rally, the small group opted to make a visible statement. On the evening of Monday, Feb. 28, O’Leary, Cartagena and a few others wrapped the pillars of the facade of the Carnegie Art Museum building in Oxnard with yellow and blue plastic tablecloths showing the colors of the flag of Ukraine.

The demonstration is in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the Russian invasion that began on Feb. 24 enters its second week. 

“So it started . . . with the invasion of Ukraine and it just really tugged in my heart,” said Cartagena. “Seeing the women and children, many children, having to flee and then the men having to stay to fight for the love of their country.”

As of March 1, 2022, 660,000 refugees are fleeing Ukraine in the wake of the fighting, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, based on government reports. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, there have been 536 confirmed civilian casualties, including 13 children, since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24. It is widely expected that these numbers will climb as hostilities continue.

(Online update, March 3, 2022) As of March 3, the United Nations is reported over 1 million refugees are fleeing the fighting in Ukraine.

Cartagena said she also wanted to show the community that many are wanting to support the people in Ukraine right now “even though some of us can’t change the circumstances there or financially support the movement.  We can see we are all in solidarity!”