As uncertainty swirls around negotiations to possibly end war in Eastern Europe, Vineyarders gathered at Five Corners on Saturday in protest of the Trump Administration, carrying signs and waving the blue and yellow Ukrainian flags.
Organized by Indivisible Martha’s Vineyard, up to 70 Islanders gathered at the Tisbury intersection in support of Ukraine and to denounce the Trump Administration for its treatment of the country. Organizers were particularly moved after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House on Feb. 28 that abruptly ended, but not before a heated exchange between the two nations’ top officials.
“It’s one of the most shameful things I’ve seen a president and vice president do,” said Carla Cooper, one of the rally organizers, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
The local gathering falls in line with demonstrations nationwide, also motivated by the White House meeting. Ukrainians gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on March 6 and called for Washington to “help secure the release of all Ukrainian soldiers and civilians held in Russian captivity,” the Ukrainian English-language news site Kyive Independent reported.
Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to discuss a potential ceasefire over the phone on Tuesday. However, Islanders have their concerns.
“You have the United States president lying and promoting Russian propaganda, painting Ukraine as the aggressor,” Cooper said, calling Trump “colossally stupid” and a “Russian agent” for his handling of the talks with Ukraine and Russia.
While many Islanders are worried about Ukrainian safety and under what terms peace will be negotiated, Cooper told the Times there was a “grateful” mood among protesters on Saturday. She said the rally was an opportunity for people to “express their outrage collectively” instead of “being isolated and scared at home.”
Cooper also said rallies were important to pressure elected officials to keep Ukraine in the conversation.
Rep. Bill Keating, who represents Martha’s Vineyard in Congress, has been vocal of his support for Ukraine and recently led an impassioned speech calling for the United States to attain guarantees of peace from Russia at the negotiating table.
“We’re not just betraying Ukraine by pulling back. We’re not just betraying our important allies by pulling back. We’re betraying the Untied States of America and our values,” Keating said during a rally in East Falmouth on March 2.
Martha’s Vineyard has supported Ukraine in various ways in the past — particularly in 2022, the year Russian forces invaded — through protests, fundraisers, and donating medical supplies.
If you watched the entire meeting you would see Zelensky ask for more than what was agreed to before the ceremonial signing. A few days later he apologized. The only way we can have peace is for Ukraine to give up the sliver of land which is Russian anyway and promise not to join NATO . Yes Putin is a thug but Z is not winning and putting more of his people into a meat grinder and more than 100 billion we have given him. What are your suggestions?
Are you suggesting standing with Putin?
There is no such thing as sliver of land.
What makes that ‘sliver’ of land Russian?
Thuggery?
The meat grinder is grinding up Russian boys and starving North Korean men.
And Ukrainians fighting for the freedom of their homeland.
Do you have any experience fighting for your homeland?
Is it much easier to just cut run, move to another country?
Instead of Ukraine’s territory Trump can mollify Putin by conceding a little sliver of the USA, say Florida. Floridians Trump, Rubio and DeSantis are already owned by Putin.
Hard to believe these are the same people that used to “Rally” for PEACE. Now supporting the slaughter of more Ukrainians
If Americans were being slaughtered what should be done?
Surrender?
Z must step down and allow a free, unbiased election of a new leader.
So Trump said he would not have elections for president in 4 years. If he actually prevents a presidential election what do we say then?
Appeasement will not work. Those who suggest it have not learned the lessons of history. Any person who uses the phrase “the only way” lacks imagination. There are many ways to peace. None of those ways include capitulating to Putin. As to giving up a “sliver of land”. That sounds almost reasonable until you think for a moment about the people who actually live there. As to the amount of money spent, you can pay now or pay later. Listen to Churchill’s speech to the British people at their most desperate hour. That is the attitude needed when it comes to fighting tyranny.
While I appreciate those who wish to engage in protest, I question how effective these demonstrations really are and what motivates participants. Five Corners often seems like a place where people gather more to be seen than to make a tangible impact—it feels performative. People get their picture and name in the paper, but the issue they claim to be working on remains unchanged.
To be clear, I have protested at Five Corners in the past, and I support the cause these protesters say they are fighting for, but I question whether this type of protest actually makes a difference. Protesting for the sake of protesting isn’t effective. I would ask the organizers: What is the follow-up? How does this event lead to real change rather than just another photo in The Martha’s Vineyard Times?
Lastly, how can those protesting claim to support Ukraine while saying nothing about Palestine?
With respect,
Arthur Hardy-Doubleday
Z is the obstacle to peace. Z is a weak, greedy and corrupt leader that has silenced all Ukraine dissenters and his citizens from electing a new more competent leader. Many Ukrainians living here and in Ukraine have lost young men and family and do not want this war to continue. Europe lacks the will and the resources to continue the Ukraine war.
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