Glen Cove, New York – Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) joined the Ukrainian Americans of Long Island, other elected officials, and hundreds of concerned neighbors at a peaceful gathering outside the Killenworth mansion Sunday (2/27) in Glen Cove.The purpose of the rally was to express American solidarity with the Ukrainian community, but many speakers, including Lavine, expressed strong condemnation of the unprovoked aggression of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We as Americans must have no tolerance whatsoever for voices here in the United States or overseas who praise Putin for being a man of strength and character.We live in a democracy.Democracies were expressly designed not to have strongmen as leaders or as presidents.We believe in freedom of speech, we believe in debate, we believe in coming to a consensus.That’s part of the American idea.Part of the American ideal.That is also part of the Ukrainian ideal.The Ukrainian idea,” Lavine said.

“Let us stand together and let us never forget that the forces of totalitarianism and authoritarianism aren’t simply in Russia, they are throughout the world.We stand here today for democracy in the United States, democracy in the Ukraine, and democracy throughout the world.That is the only way the world will be able to continue to exist,” he added.

Attached photos courtesy of the Office of Assemblymember Charles Lavine.