A Juneau protest that drew around 200 people to The Whale at Bill Overstreet Park on Friday was among many held across Alaska last week to voice opposition to the welcoming of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage.
According to MarchAgainst.org, protests were held over the weekend, starting Thursday, in Homer, Soldotna, Anchorage, Girdwood, Wasilla, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Valdez, Fairbanks and Petersburg. Thousands gathered in Anchorage and Fairbanks, hundreds in Soldotna and Homer.
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on Friday. Per reporting by the Alaska Beacon, the talks ended earlier than expected, and “without announcing a breakthrough in negotiations to end Russia’s three-year-old invasion of Ukraine.”
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, sparking a conflict that has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths of both soldiers and civilians in the country.
According to a release from Juneau for Democracy, who organized the “No War Criminals” protest in Juneau alongside ReSisters, Action Alaska and Stand Up Alaska, the crowd voiced opposition to the hosting on Alaska soil of a leader wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Specifically, the release says that people in Juneau are concerned about the abduction of Ukrainian children “and other atrocities tied to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.”
Protesters carried signs with messages including “Alaska Stands with Ukraine,” “Putin Out of Ukraine,” and “Slava Ukraini” — meaning “Glory to Ukraine.”
“Don’t let it be said that Alaska let a war criminal on our land unopposed,” said Ariel Hasse-Zamudio, who emcee’d the event. “Send a message to our government that we support Ukraine and oppose Putin, his war, and the kidnapping of children from Russian-occupied territory.”
Other speakers at the protest included a woman with Ukrainian ties, former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, Olana Zyuba and Káak’utxéich Kai Monture.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
Protesters hold signs at the “No War Criminals” protest at The Whale in Bill Overstreet Park in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo provided by Juneau For Democracy)
