by Eric Yue
Despite sanctions placed on the Russian economy, many Americans are not satisfied and have taken steps to boycott Russia and Russian-related products at home.
Three weeks ago, Total Wine and More, a retail company operating more than 220 stores across more than 25 states, announced on social media that it "removed all Russian-made products from our shelves."
Social media users across the country have also participated by sharing videos and clips of people dumping bottles of Vodka, along with messages with hashtags such as #BoycottRussia. State governors such as Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Chris Sununu, R-N.H., have even halted the selling of Russian Vodka in their states.
In New York, numerous restaurants were vandalized and kicked in. For example, Sveta, a small restaurant owned by Sveta Savchitz, a Ukrainian immigrant who labeled his restaurant as “Russian” to attract more customers, recently reported a significant spike in negative comments and reviews after the Russian invasion started. Many individuals just hang up after calling the staff “Nazis” and for them to “Go Home”. To avoid further backlash on the restaurant, Sveta recently changed its online tag from a “Russian” restaurant to “Eastern European.”
The food and restaurant industry is not the only one suffering. Earlier this month, both FIFA and the International Olympic Committee banned Russian and Belorusian teams from competing. These players and so many more are not only denied a chance to compete on the international stage but also receive more criticism for not taking a more vocal stance on the current conflict.
Alex Ovechkin, a top Russian athlete in the National Hockey League (NHL) even received death threats from individuals for his ethnicity and not publicly and explicitly condemning the invasion. Daniil Medvedev, one of the best tennis players in the world, recently removed his Russia flag from his Instagram bio, signaling and drawing the line between the player and Russia.
Despite all efforts to move away from the backlash of the invasion, many people and fans are still calling for players to “do more”. Fans of the Washington Capitals demanded Ovechkin to publicly denounce Putin’s actions. But those who are close to Ovechkin say that he has a personal relationship with Putin, meaning that denouncing Putin would put him and his family in Russia in danger.
One action, from one man, sparked international protest, resistance, and criticism. But instead of taking significant actions to punish the Russian president, many across this country and the world took out their anger and frustration on Russian people, even after they distanced themselves from Putin. The rise of Russiaphobia in the recent weeks have had no significant effects on stopping the invasion, but back at home, these verbal aggressions and other demanding acts are targeting the wrong people, the people who have no control over what is happening in Ukraine.
edited by William Cao and Vishal Krishnaiah
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