On January 7, 2024 the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America, Illinois Division, and activists in Chicago, led by Tony Dmitriv's initiative, organized a large-scale protest called "Silence Kills the Ukrainian People." near the historic Wrigley Building in Chicago.
The main goal of the protest was to draw attention from the media to recent widespread racist attacks throughout Ukraine. Despite the scale of missile strikes, Western press largely overlooked these events. Participants in the protest equated the lack of information about the crimes of the russian war in Ukraine to misinformation and called on the press to objectively cover events in Ukraine and support the Ukrainian people's struggle for self-determination.
Equally important was the call for the American Congress to passa law including aid to Ukraine in the 2024 budget. Speakers reminded politicians that Ukraine is not asking for charity and that investing in Ukraine's victory is an investment in their own security and economy. Lastly, urging prioritization of action for the military prisoners held by Russia forover 20 months, the activists appealed to the United Nations and the Red Cross not to waste time and to act for the preservation of their lives and health.
The event captured the attention of journalists from ABC7 and WGN 9 channels, as well as several radio stations.