The road in front of the Russian embassy in Washington, DC was renamed on Sunday to President Zelensky Way.
It was a defiant tribute to the leader of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been hailed as a hero around the world as he fends off an unprovoked Russian invasion.
The man behind the stunt said that the street sign was placed in front of the embassy as a form of silent protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It is a symbolic gesture. Claude Taylor, a political activist, told Insider in a phone interview on Sunday that it was meant to symbolize what we and lots of Americans feel about what is happening in the Ukraine.
Taylor founded a political action committee against the Trump administration. He said that the group had done several sign stunts in the past and that they could take a small action to protest the war in Ukraine.
—Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) March 6, 2022
The sign is made of cement and has a pole. The sign was placed around 2:30 pm on Sunday, but it is not clear how long it will remain there.
In the past, Mad Dog PAC has put up signs named after journalists who have been killed in the line of duty. Taylor's group put up a sign in front of the Saudi embassy in DC, as well as other locations.
For the Zelensky sign, Taylor had a sign base and pole leftover from that project and just needed to order the actual sign, attach it, and drop it off in front of the embassy.
Taylor's group has taken aim at Russia before. The O formed by a hammer and sickle is a common symbol in Russia and was on the Soviet Union flag. The group said the billboard was meant to highlight the GOP's corrupt and treasonous cooperation with Putin and his Russian mob.
Taylor didn't know if the Zelensky sign would stay up or if it would be taken down. He said that if attention is drawn to the sign, it has accomplished its goal.
This is a peaceful, silent form of protest.
Do you have a news tip? Contact the reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.
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