On Sunday 6th March activists from North Staffs Green Party took part in a vigil for peace following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The event held at the blue clock in Hanley town centre was part of a national day of action sponsored the Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Similar events took place in towns and cities around the UK, including London, Birmingham and Glasgow over the weekend.
The Hanley vigil was jointly hosted by NORSCARF, North Staffs Green Party and the South Cheshire and North Staffordshire branch of CND.
The vigils took place as the war in Ukraine enters its third week with Russia adopting ever more brutal tactics. At the same time President Vladimir Putin had continued to make thinly veiled threats about using nuclear weapons.
A spokesperson for North Staffs Greens said from the podium that the situation was the most serious threat of a nuclear conflict since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
Going on to call for this to be the inspiration for a global movement to oppose this and all wars, and for the government to do more to support refugees fleeing the war zone.
CND speaker Jason Hill said people of diverse backgrounds had come together to call for an end to the war, and for refugees to be welcomed to the UK.
At their spring conference held over the weekend coinciding with the national day of action the Green Party passed a motion calling for visa requirements to be waived for civilians fleeing the conflict.
Co-Leader Carla Denyer said people “across the world have been shocked to see such horrific images emerge from a country where millions of innocent civilians are now having to flee or risk their lives being put in danger”.
Adding that it was the “least we can do is open our doors to all those who are seeking refuge from this horrific invasion”.
The spokesperson went on to say the Tory government should stop taking money from Putin and his allies. Adding that global protests were also in solidarity with Russian people opposed to the war.
NORSCARF spokesman said, long history of war and associated suffering in Ukraine, recent Russian attacks have destroyed monuments marking this history.
Went on to say Russian tactics ate designed to damage infrastructure and create refugees. Added that this parallels the behaviour of other powers in conflicts including that in Palestine.
He called for more to be done to address the prejudice shown to refugees and to end conflicts around the globe.
Ollie Johnson spoke about government proposals to limit protest, linking it to Russian protesters opposing the war. He said the government was trying to take people's voices away, but they would not succeed.
Georgia, manager of Arts charity B-Arts spoke about links between the city and Ukraine. Also spoke about the impact the war had had on young people, and the work they are doing to fundraise and collect donations for people who have had to abandon their homes.
A second event sponsored by Ukraine Solidarity North Staffs, North Staffs Green Party and SCANSCND will be held on Saturday 12th March at the Blue Clock on Upper Market Square in Hanley ST1 1NS, between 12:00 & 13:30pm.