Update: As of March 17, we’ve raised over $65,000! To those who have helped our efforts to support the people of Ukraine, we can’t thank you enough. It is beyond our expectations and means more than you know.
We’re extending our fundraising efforts until Wednesday, March 23rd, with a new goal of $100,000—and we’ve added a limited-edition enamel pin to our store to help get there. (If you don’t want a shirt or a pin, donate directly here.)
Riot Fest stands with the people of Ukraine, and against the unjust war and suffering that Russia has brought upon the country. In light of the escalating situation overseas, we are starting an urgent fundraiser with 100% of the proceeds donated to two organizations supporting life-saving measures in Ukraine.
Two new shirt designs are now available at RiotBrand.org, benefiting Revived Soldiers Ukraine and Razom For Ukraine. Each shirt is priced at $25 USD. Riot Fest will donate all proceeds from these shirt sales; festival founder Michael Petryshyn (AKA Riot Mike) will match all proceeds up to $15,000.00 to support a population under siege. You may also make a direct donation below via PayPal, which will be split between both organizations.
“Razom is a diverse community of volunteers and collaborators across the US and Ukraine. We support the people of Ukraine in their continued quest for democracy and progress. In response to war conflict, we raise funds to provide medical supplies and other humanitarian aid.”
“Revived Soldiers Ukraine is a well-established 501(c)(3) U.S. charity that has been providing medical and humanitarian help to Ukraine for many years. We are now working around the clock to deliver medical equipment and supplies, arrange humanitarian aid, and provide medical treatment to injured Ukrainians. With the help of committed supporters like you, we can continue our work to assist families and soldiers in Ukraine.”
In addition, please read the following statement from festival founder Michael Petryshyn (AKA Riot Mike)—who, among some of our other staff, is Ukrainian-American. English and Ukrainian versions are both below.
Eighty years ago, all four of my grandparents left their beloved homeland of Ukraine to escape decades-long atrocities under the dictatorships of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and their Bolshevik and Soviet counterparts. Just like millions of other Ukrainians, they left behind their parents, siblings and family knowing they would likely never be able to embrace them again.
What they saw and witnessed is something no person should ever experience. Under Soviet and Bolshevik rule, Ukrainian dissidents, insurgents, thinkers, writers—and whoever they deemed as a threat to the authoritarian regime—were either killed or shipped off to Siberian penal colonies. From 1932 to 1933, upwards of 6 million Ukrainians were intentionally starved to death by Stalin in just two years, all because of their resistance to collectivism. All the while, centuries-old Tsarist Russification was rebranded as Soviet conformity to wipe out all Ukrainian identity: language, culture, religion and history. Obey or we will silence you.
Make no mistake, the Soviet and KGB hierarchy alongside their pseudo-intellectual Leninist, Stalinist and Marxist ideologies never left the Kremlin halls. All of them, including Vladimir Putin, are just donning new uniforms and they will never view Ukrainians as Ukrainians. Once KGB, always KGB.
Eighty years ago, Ukrainians like my grandparents left everything they knew and loved to escape Stalinism. It appears history may be repeating itself. With mortars exploding behind them, Ukrainians are beginning to flee their homeland as their sovereignty and independence begin to crumble.
And as the world watches innocent lives being lost, I humbly ask—as a proud Ukrainian-American—to not sit idly.
Your friend,
Michael Anthony Petryshyn
Pictured: Riot Mike with his last surviving grandparent, Maria Petryshyn
Punk Rock (& more) Music Fest | I'm sorry we didn't book the exact bands you wanted, in the exact order you wanted, in the exact location you wanted, for free. Chicago. Sept. 15-17, 2023
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The best, the best, the "Best Of" Riot Fest 2023 gallery is up!
