Myrtle Beach among nation’s first cities to condemn Russia-backed war
Myrtle Beach is among the first major South Carolina cities to formally condemn Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine after city leaders on Tuesday approved a symbolic resolution calling for peace in the region.
U.S. Ukraine Foundation president and founder Nadia McConnell told The Sun News she believes the city may stand alone nationally in its rebuke of Russia.
While Congress and state legislatures — including South Carolina’s — have adopted resolutions decrying the war, few if any local governments have followed suit, McConnell said.
“Maybe you’re setting a trend,” she said.
As lawmakers have moved to distance the state from its Russian ties - including proposals to divest money from Russian-owned companies rolled into public employees retirement funds - Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said leaders in her city simply felt the display of support for Ukraine was the right thing to do.
“It was something we all felt passionately about,” she told The Sun News following the meeting. “I think it’s a testament to our people and our community that this is so important to us.”
Before the unanimous vote was taken, councilman Greg Smith urged Myrtle Beach residents not to hold the local Russian population accountable for the violence.
“Let’s not let it spill over to the Russians in our community, who by and large, probably do not support his (Putin’s) actions,” Smith said.
Language in the resolution is careful to put blame for the aggression solely on Russian Putin, calling the incursion a “Putin-led attack on Ukraine.”
McConnell said gestures such as the Myrtle Beach resolution, coast-to-coast rallies and continued support of Ukrainian-owed businesses could affect U.S. policy decisions.
“All this cumulative action, it comes together and it moves our government,” she said. “It’s important.”
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach among nation’s first cities to condemn Russia-backed war."