Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A number of local government officials gathered on Friday at the Ukrainian-American Civic Center on Military Road in Buffalo to announce plans to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the wake of the ongoing invasion by Russian forces.
"We want to make clear: Russia's attack on Ukraine is an attack on democracies everywhere in the world. So today, we're calling on the state of New York to divest the State pension fund from any companies doing business with Russia," said Senator Sean Ryan during Friday's event.
"New York State is the home to the largest Ukrainian population in the United States, and Western New York is part of that with a large and vibrant community. Many of the people from this club, they're watching the news every day, and they're concerned. They're concerned about family, friends, they're concerned about their country. So we are here today to gather in solidarity with Ukrainian neighbors in the wake of the unprovoked attack being carried out by the Russian army."
State Legislators called for New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to divest the $279 billion State pension fund from companies based in the Russian Federation, or that do business with companies based in Russia. The request came on the same day a group of 31 State Senators sent a letter to DiNapoli, urging him to take this action immediately.
It was earlier this week that DiNapoli announced plans to prohibit any new investments in Russian companies. He also directed his staff to review the pension fund's existing assets invested in Russian companies to see if they pose a financial risk to the fund.
But there comes one more ask from State lawmakers in this effort, including Senator Ryan.
"New York has the third-largest pension fund in the United States, and we need to ensure that our investments are not providing aid to Russia," he said. "Our state must be loud, and it must be clear in its opposition to the human rights violations that are being committed by Russia upon the citizens of Ukraine. So we must do everything in our power to send a message to Vladimir Putin that his actions will have economic consequences. He will not be able to participate in the world's economy."
"I don't think there's anything more important in our world today than the strife that has broken out in Western Europe," said Senator Tim Kennedy along side Ryan on Friday. "The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was unprovoked, unwarranted, illegal on the international scale, and one that we are all united in driving back against. Vladimir Putin has made it very clear to the world that he is nothing more than a terrorist, and a warmonger. In the year 2022, we never thought we'd see such a thing. But here we are.
"We've got to hit Vladimir Putin right where it counts. No 1., knock him back to Russia. Eliminate the Russians from Ukraine, bring peace back to the people of the democracy of Ukraine. And then we got to hit Vladimir Putin, the terrorist, in his pocketbook. Today, he's one of the richest people in the world. That is wrong. How do we do that? We divest from businesses that are investing in Russia here in the state of New York."
In addition, Ryan and the other officials in attendance stated efforts are underway to make sure additional funding for refugee resettlement agencies will be prioritized in this year's state budget. The money will help the places that are helping to resettle people fleeing Ukraine in the local communities, including Western New York.
"As Senator Ryan mentioned, this is a community where we welcome people that are fighting for their freedom. We've done it for generations, and we're going to continue to do it and nothing's gonna stop us," said State Assemblyman Jon Rivera on Friday. "We're welcoming anybody that's being displaced, and everything that's going on in Ukraine, to come to Buffalo. And we will not only welcome you with open arms, but we're gonna show you this world and show you what true democracy looks like and what a real community can do."
Also in attendance on Friday was State Assemblymen Bill Conrad, as well as Yuri Hreshchyshyn from the Buffalo Chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.
You can listen to the entire press conference below:
