“You can’t use 🍉 — this emoji is only for Palestine.”
One of the peak cringe moments of internet activism for me was when, on a Ukrainian page about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a post marking the anniversary of the liberation of Kherson from occupation. Somewhere in the text, the 🍉 emoji was used.
Among the many foreigners who, as usual, rushed in with “what about Palestine” (on a Ukrainian page talking about its own attempts to survive), there was one girl who started a whole argument claiming that Ukrainians were shamelessly trying to steal the 🍉 emoji from Palestinians.
I explained that Ukrainians have been using the watermelon symbol since 2022 in the context of Kherson, because the city is known across Ukraine precisely for its watermelons — it’s a symbol of the city.
To that I got the reply: “but you know that this symbol is only for Palestine now, so you could have given it up.”
At that point, I realized there was nothing to prove, especially because she doubled down on her stance regardless of my words. I feel like people like this are focused on being the most “correct” activists, even when they end up harming both groups of people in the process.
So in this context, for additional awareness, alongside the photo from the flash mob by our defenders near the destroyed Kherson monument, I want to add the stamp issued by Ukraine’s state postal service.
The stamp depicts all the horrors of the occupation that the people of Kherson went through — not only the destruction of their homes, but also the torture and abuse inflicted by Russian soldiers.
The redesign of emblems and icons of state institutions:
A bit of general artwork around the theme “Kherson is finally home” or "Kherson is Ukraine":
And even a teen art challenge created to raise funds for support. (by kat.rina_art studio on insta) — sadly, I can only include a limited number of images in the post:
1. Kherson is gazing at a bright sky.
2. Kherson is the sounds of nature.
3. Kherson is when you are special simply because you exist.
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