WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Forty-eight people died in the incident and more than 250 were injured.
"We would obviously support any commemoration of this event, but as with any commemoration, it needs to be done non-violently, Toner stated. "[W]e would certainly condemn any threats in the run-up to these events or commemoration, and call on all sides to show restraint."
On Monday, the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) delivered a petition to the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, DC supporting the planned demonstration and calling for the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the murders of pro-democracy activists in Odessa.
The petition called on the United States and Ukraine to ensure the protection of demonstrators after fascist groups publicly declared they will not allow the Odessa memorial to take place. The organization explained that right-wing groups regularly target similar demonstrations.
UNAC will send a delegation of US human rights activists to observe the memorial.
Earlier in April, the State Department said in its annual human rights report that Ukrainian government’s failure to investigate the Odessa deaths and other abuses has fostered a climate of impunity in the country.
