MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry showed their support for Ukraine while accepting an award on Saturday.
The couple was on stage at the NAACP Image Awards when Harry called attention to the suffering of Ukrainians at the hands of Russia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received the President’s Award for special achievement and distinguished public service.
It recognized their work through the Archewell Foundation, including their support in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and attention brought to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Harry thanked the communities the foundation serves for a warm welcome before taking a moment to address Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
“Before I begin, we would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community,” he said.
DEATH TOLL CLIMBS
The remarks came after it was revealed that a child was killed as Russian artillery fire rained down on a Ukrainian children’s hospital yesterday.
Two more kids were wounded in the blast, which hit the National Children’s Specialized Hospital Okhmatdyt, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Extremely heavy air raids were expected in Kyiv around 9pm last night as Russian airdrops filled the skies.
At least 198 Ukrainians have reportedly been killed and 1,115 people wounded so far, the Ukrainian government said.
Follow our Ukraine Russia invasion live blog for the very latest news and updates…
Meghan and Harry previously showed their support for Ukraine in a statement condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country.
They wrote on the website of their Archewell charity: “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same.”
WORK THROUGH ARCHEWELL
Harry and Meghan launched the Archewell Foundation in 2020.
The website describes the foundation as “an impact-driven non-profit” with a core purpose to “uplift and unite communities – local and global, online and offline – one act of compassion at a time.”
Previous recipients of the award presented to the couple on Saturday night include Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, LeBron James, and Rihanna.
“It’s inspiring to think about the legacy of the Image Awards, which began shortly after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were passed into law,” Meghan said on stage.
“Today, we can continue that legacy by re-establishing federal voting protections in our country and fulfilling the work of civil rights giants, like the late John Lewis.”
After taking a moment to draw attention to Ukraine, Harry said: “I also echo the immense gratitude for tonight, both for this award and this community for welcoming me so warmly.
“I think it’s safe to say that I come from a very different background from my incredible wife, yet our lives were brought together for a reason.
“We share a commitment to a life of service, a responsibility to combat injustice and a belief that the most often overlooked are the most important to listen to.”
The couple wore outfits by black designers, People reported, and have announced a new annual award with the NAACP.
The NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award will recognize “a new generation of leaders” working to advance civil and human rights, according to the Archewell Foundation website.
Doctor Safiya Noble is the first recipient honored for her new nonprofit, which helps black women and women of color thrive through access to education, investments, mentorship, and mutual aid.
