With Ukrainian flags raised and passing cars honking their horns, Saturday afternoonB次元官网网址檚 anti-war demonstration in Penticton was personal for one local woman, who couldnB次元官网网址檛 help but think about her family living in Eastern Europe.

Cyndy Bishop was joined by her husband, Lance, and dozens of other Pentictonites who spent their day (March 5) rallying at the intersection of Main Street and Warren Avenue in support of Ukraine.

After RussiaB次元官网网址檚 full-scale invasion of the neighbouring country on Feb. 24, Bishop reached out to several of her family members who currently reside in Ivano-Frankivsk, a Ukrainian city located in the western part of the country.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e offered to help sponsor my cousins and bring them to Canada but theyB次元官网网址檝e refused to come and want to stay home and fight,B次元官网网址� Bishop explained to Black Press.

Bishop visited Ukraine only two years ago. She took her 10-year old son and 82-year old mother to Ivano-Frankivsk for a family reunion.

The Penticton family landed at the cityB次元官网网址檚 airport in Ukraine, a place that has since been struck by a missile as a result of a Russian invasion.

B次元官网网址淗er family does not want to leave (Ukraine),B次元官网网址� BishopB次元官网网址檚 husband said.

B次元官网网址淭hey told us that theyB次元官网网址檙e all staying back to fight. Their town has been bombed and the airportB次元官网网址檚 been bombed, but all her family members at this point are accounted for.B次元官网网址�

SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 gathering near Cherry Lane Mall was much larger than what it was only a week prior, with one woman even handing out mini Ukrainian flags to pedestrians on the sidewalk.

And seeing dozens of Pentictonites rally in support of her familyB次元官网网址檚 country was a moment Bishop will never forget.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 beautiful and I think there needs to be more of these (gatherings) in the world right now,B次元官网网址� Bishop said while holding back tears.

As far as the local couple is concerned, rallying for Ukraine in Penticton isnB次元官网网址檛 going to be a one-time occasion.

BishopB次元官网网址檚 husband told Black Press he will be at the intersection with the countryB次元官网网址檚 flag every weekend, or maybe even every weekday if needed.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 here for my wife. IB次元官网网址檓 not of Ukrainian descent myself but IB次元官网网址檓 here for my wife and her family.B次元官网网址�

Feelings of helplessness could be sensed throughout the day on Saturday, with more and more local ralliers asking what more can be done.

For now, though, Bishop just knows her family isnB次元官网网址檛 going down without a fight.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not surprised theyB次元官网网址檙e fighting.B次元官网网址�

logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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