There has been no official word on when the SDA would start processing adoption appointments again. In my Rumors and Transdniester post I mentioned the rumors that SDA would open on May 1 or May 3 or May 9.


I heard a new date recently, May 17. And one family is claiming to have a May 8 appointment.


A FRUA poster pointed out the holiday schedule. So I went to United States Embassy in Ukraine site and looked. The US Embassy is closed on the US and Ukrainian holidays.


May 1 and May 2 are International Labor Day, a Ukrainian holiday. During the Soviet era it was known as May Day. It was a time for the Soviet military to have a huge parade.


I don't know exactly why, but I find it ironic Ukraine is celebrating an American event. And most Americans don't have any knowledge of this event.


Anyone else know what happened at the Haymarket Square in 1886? Does it help if I mention it was a riot and happened in Chicago?

On May 1, 1886 (later known as May Day), labor unions organized a strike for an eight-hour work day in Chicago. By 21st century Western standards, working conditions in the city were miserable, with most workers working ten to twelve hour days, often six days a week under sometimes dangerous conditions. On May 3 striking workers met near the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. plant. A fight broke out on the picket lines, and Chicago police intervened and attacked the strikers, killing two, wounding several others and sparking outrage in the city's working community.

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Local anarchists distributed fliers calling for a rally [on May 4] at Haymarket Square

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These fliers alleged police had murdered the strikers on behalf of business interests and urged workers to seek justice.

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The rally began peacefully under a light rain on the evening of May 4. Anarchist leader August Spies spoke to the large crowd while standing in an open wagon on a side street. According to many witnesses Spies said he was not there to incite anyone.

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The crowd was so calm that Mayor Carter Harrison, Sr. who had stopped by to watch, walked home early. Some time later the police ordered the rally to disperse and began marching in formation towards the speakers' wagon. A lit, fused bomb whistled over the heads of onlookers, landed near the police line and exploded, killing a policeman (see [Mathias J. Degan]); 7 other policemen later died from their injuries. The police immediately opened fire on the crowd, injuring dozens. Many of the wounded were afraid to visit hospitals for fear of being arrested. A total of eleven people died.

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Eight people connected directly or indirectly with the rally and its anarchist organisers were charged with Degan's murder [policeman]

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The jury returned guilty verdicts for all eight defendants, with death sentences for seven.

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The trial is often referred to by scholars as one of the most serious miscarriages of justice in United States history.

From: Haymarket Riot

Of the 7 defendants who received death sentences. The IL State governor converted 2 of their sentences to life in prison. 1 killed himself prison before he could be executed. 4 were hanged to death in public.


May 9 is Victory Day, a Ukrainian holiday that celebrates the defeat of the Nazis in Europe.


Recently Ukraine added May 8 to their holiday schedule to further celebrate Victory Day. The US Embassy in Kyiv send an email about this. So a May 8 opening date doesn't seem likely.

May 3? May 17? June?

We shall see.