San Francisco community plans famine protest at Soviet Consulate (10/23/83)

San Francisco community plans famine protest at Soviet Consulate

SAN FRANCISCO - A weekend of protest and remembrance is planned in San Francisco November 5 and 6 as hundreds of Ukrainian Americans in Northern California unite to protest the continuing Soviet cover-up of Stalin's man-made famine in Ukraine in 1932-33. Over 7 million men, women and children were deliberately starved to death in little over a year by Soviet rulers.

This long-forgotten tragedy ranks among the world's greatest atrocities, yet, unlike Hitler's genocide of the Jews, the Great Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 has gone unnoticed by the media and forgotten by the world.

A major demonstration is planned for midday Saturday, November 5, in front of the Soviet Consulate in San Francisco. Ukrainians, Poles, Czechs, Soviet Jews, Afghans, Cubans, Koreans and other groups are expected to mass at the consulate in solidarity against the Soviets. Demonstrators will march in protest for past Soviet insensitivity for human life; to remember the victims of the Great Famine; and to voice dissent against the current Soviet regime and the regime's apparent continuing blatant disregard for human life as evidenced in the Korean airliner incident.

On Sunday, November 6, a commemorative program is planned at the San Francisco Hyatt Regency Hotel. Dr. Robert Conquest of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University is the keynote speaker. Dr. Conquest is considered to be one of the world's leading authorities on Soviet terrorism and is the author of many books on the subject, including: "The Great Terror" and "Russia After Krushchev." Dr. Conquest is currently completing work on a comprehensive book about the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33. The book is jointly sponsored by the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute and the Ukrainian National Association.

In addition to the keynote speech, several eyewitness accounts will be read, describing conditions experienced by the survivors. A brief cultural program will wrap up the commemorative program. A solemn commemorative meal will also be served. The governor, congressmen, local politicians and civic dignitaries have been invited to attend this program.

Throughout communities in northern California proclamations are being issued by mayors and other civic dignitaries. The California Legislature has recognized and memorialized the victims of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 by approving Assembly Joint Resolution No. 47 sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Roos of Los Angeles. In Sacramento, Ukrainian leaders have asked Gov. George Duekmejian to support this solemn commemoration by issuing a proclamation proclaiming November as Ukrainian Famine Commemoration month.

A famine photo exhibit, prepared by the Los Angeles Ukrainian community, will be unveiled at the November 2 press conference at the San Francisco Press Club. A weeklong display of this exhibit at the State Capitol is planned.

Many survivors of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 living in northern California have come forward to tell their stories of this forgotten tragedy. These eyewitness accounts are being collected by the Famine Commemoration Committee for storage in local archives.

The public is invited to attend both events. Ticket prices for the commemorative program on November 6, are $20, $15 and $5; call (415) 653-6149 for ticket information.

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