Ukrainian Organizations to Honor Students of the Revolution on Granite

Thirty years ago this month, the world witnessed something Ukraine had yet to experience – a mass protest in the nation’s capital, at what was then known as October Revolution Square, now known as Maidan Nezaleshnosti. There, in Kyiv’s center, a group of students set up a tent city, staged a hunger strike, and demanded change, vowing not to let up until their demands were met.

Bucking the system, and defying Soviet authority, these students called for early parliamentary elections, the rejection of signing any new Union Treaty, the nationalization of Community party property, allowing local conscripts to serve only on Ukrainian territory, and the resignation of Prime Minister Vitaliy Masol.

These brave students of the Revolution on Granite not only organized the first of three major protests in recent Ukraine’s history and galvanized the country’s support but they became the catalysts in/for Ukraine’s quest for independence and democratic governance.

This month, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the largest representation of Ukrainians in America, together with the Ukrainian America Youth Association (UAYA/CYM) will honor these students and their sacrifices by hosting a webinar on October 29 at 6:00 p.m. We hope you will be able to join us for a panel discussion with the leader who led Ukraine’s Revolution on Granite 30 years ago, and learn how the student hunger strike changed history.

Source: The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America