Ukrainians in Chi want peace, NATO intervention
By Jacoby Cochran | @JacobyCochran
🇺🇦 UKRAINIAN SUPPORT IN CHI
Hey, it’s Jacoby. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, lead producer Carrie Shepherd and I headed to a rally in Ukrainian Village Sunday.
We arrived around noon outside the Ukrainian National Museum. Though it was about 30 degrees, the sun was bright. Clergymen stood in their ceremonial robes alongside suited politicians, beads of sweat dripping down all of their faces as the crowds grew.
People of all ages were flying and wrapped in the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, some wearing crowns of sunflowers. Three-flats in the neighborhood, which borders Chicago Ave. between Damen and Western, had their flags waving and “I support Ukraine” signs in their windows. Cars were blasting Ukrainian music, and there were anti-Putin signs as far as my nearsighted eyes could see.
One sign had a map of Ukraine plastered across the Russian president’s face along with the words “Hands Off.” Others called him a war criminal and demanded that NATO take action. As one person yelled over a bull horn, “Slava Ukrayini,” or “Glory to Ukraine,” hundreds of voices called back “Heroyam Slava,” or “Glory to the heroes.”
Crowd at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Catholic Church Sunday. (Image by Carrie Shepherd)
By the time speeches began around 1:30 p.m., the streets around Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church were packed with what felt like thousands of people. There were not just Ukrainian flags but American, Lithuanian, Polish, and more.
Residents, clergymen, and local leaders — including Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Mike Quigley, and Raja Krishnamoorthi — spoke in solidarity with Ukranians fighting Russia’s attack.
People hold flags. (Image by Jacoby Cochran) 
Gov. JB Pritzker at rally. (Image by Jacoby Cochran)
Demonstrators told us Ukrainians want peace and need the world’s help: They called on NATO countries to begin direct military intervention.
“Everyone wants to stay and be safe and free in their own country,” said Nadia Haywas, who has family in Ukraine and was visiting Chicago from San Diego.
Demonstrators hold flags and signs. (Image by Jacoby Cochran) 
A person holds a sign that says “Putin is a war criminal.” (Image by Jacoby Cochran) 
A child peeks below a sign. (Image by Jacoby Cochran)
🎧 Listen to more Ukrainians in Chicago share their concerns with us.
👉 Looking to help Ukraine? Donate to this local relief fund. Keep your eye out for more rallies. Subscribe to the Kyiv Independent.
📰 NEWSFEED
▪️ The statewide and city mask mandates end today — including in schools, Pritzker announced Friday. But CPS will continue to require masks. [NBC Chicago]
▪️ How will the city distribute $500 a month to 5,000 Chicagoans in its guaranteed income pilot? A lottery system. Apps open in April.
▪️ Local School Council applications are open but few people are running, according to CPS. Only 722 applications have been submitted for 6,239 open positions. [Chicago Sun-Times]
▪️ A DePaul class about death is helping college students grieve. [Time]
▪️ Know historic Chi landmarks based on address alone? (I don’t.) Take this quiz to find out. [Chicago magazine]
▪️ Want to ride the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel for free today? Just smile. [Block Club Chicago]
📌 COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
+ Ever wonder about the giant sculpture in the Kluczynski Federal Building downtown? Reader Stephanie Pyrzynski let us know it’s part of artist Frank Stella’s Moby Dick series, and called “The Town Ho’s Story.”
+ Check out drag queen bingo at the Wieners Circle in Lincoln Park every other week. H/T reader Justin Fowlkes for letting us know about the event!
Got something to share or ask the City Cast Chi community? Email chicago@citycast.fm, and we might share it here.
🇵🇱 PACZKI PSA
Need help figuring out where to get the Polish pastry this Fat Tuesday?
Delightful Pastries in Jefferson Park has produced over 50,000 paczki on Fat Tuesdays past — including its infamous “Drunken Paczki.”
Roeser’s Bakery in Humboldt Park has nutella and peanut butter pastries at the family-owned bakery, the oldest in the city.
Bridgeport Bakery is serving plum, poppyseed, and Oreo paczki 🤤
Maybe get your paczki after the holiday if you want to avoid long lines and sold-out bakeries, like Chicago Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg suggests. You can also make your own: food enthusiast Jonathan Surratt shared his recipe.
Update: Paczki is already plural. An earlier version added an -s. Let it be known we will be eating ALL the paczki!
📣 READER SHOUTOUT
Jay Caughren, we are SO excited to see that you’re telling friends and family to subscribe to the City Cast newsletter. Thank you for spreading the good word! Get a sweet little shoutout when you refer friends 🤓