>>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT .

>>'S RADICAL ATTACKS ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE TESTIFIES IN CONGRESS ON BOOK BANS.

>>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH UKRAINE FORMER FIRST LADY ON THE COUNTRY'S ONGOING WAR.

♪ ♪ >>> AND CELEBRATING JAZZ ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

OUR CORRESPONDENT JOINS US LIVE FROM THE INGLEWOOD JAZZ FEST.

>>> NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO APPROVE $25 MILLION IN LEGAL SETTLEMENTS .

THIS FOR LAWSUITS FOR TWO MEN WHO SPENT A COMBINED 34 YEARS IN PRISON BEFORE BEING EXONERATED.

TYRONE HOOD SERVED 22 YEARS AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF THE MURDER OF BASKETBALL SAFAR MICHAEL MORGAN JR.

BOTH CONVICTIONS WERE LATER VACATED AFTER EVIDENCE EMERGED THAT IMPLICATED MORGAN'S FATHER.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON OFFERED AN APOLOGY TO THE TWO MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> THE FAMILIES THAT WERE TORTURED AND BRUTALIZED INTO FALSE CONFESSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, WE ARE SORRY.

THESE ARE MOSTLY BLACK MEN .

IT'S PAINFUL.

>> ALL CITY LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN SHUTTERED TODAY DUE TO WHAT POLICE ARE CALLING, QUOTE, DIGITAL BOMB THREATS.

PEOPLE WERE REPORTEDLY EVACUATED FROM THE LIBRARIES EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AFTER THE CALLS CAME IN, ALTHOUGH POLICE SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE THREATS ARE CREDIBLE AT THIS POINT.

THIS COMES AFTER A RASH OF SUBURBAN LIBRARIES HAVE CLOSED TEMPORARILY IN RECENT WEEKS FOR THE SAME REASON.

NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THESE THREATS SO FAR.

>>> THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS INVITED RESIDENTS TO GET THE NEW COVID-19 VACCINE, WHICH IS BEING SHIPPED THIS WEEK.

>> BOTH ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY -- THAT CAN BE YOUNG CHILDREN -- ARE REALLY AT RISK FOR HAVING MORE SEVERE DISEASE .

ALSO, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, THEIR ANTIBODIES WANE OVER TIME.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET ANOTHER VACCINE .

>> CPH SAYS THE NEW VACCINE, ONE EACH FROM PFIZER, BIONTECH, AND ONE FROM MODERNA.

OFFICIALS SAY COVID-19 HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IN ILLINOIS AND MOST OF THE COUNTRY ARE LOW BUT RATES ARE CLIMBING.

THEY SAY IF IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST TWO MONTHS SINCE YOUR LAST VACCINE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU GET THIS NEW ONE.

DID YOU GET THE CITY'S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING FOOD PANTRY IS GETTING A NEW PERMANENT HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME.

COMMON PANTRY HAS BEEN HOUSED IN THE BASEMENT HAVE UNITED CHURCH IN CHRIST FOR THE LAST 36 YEARS .

AT ITS NEW LOCATION, THE PANTRY WILL PROVIDE A LARGE COMMUNAL DINING SPACE, A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FOR A HOT LUNCH PROGRAM, AND A GROCERY SHOPPING AREA.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, UKRAINE'S FORMER FIRST LADY ON THE STATE OF THE RUSSIA/UKRAINE WAR.

>>> FIRST, A CAPITOL HILL HEARING ON BOOK BANS.

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN .

THE GYM AND CAME MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

INTRICATE ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH DRIVER'S LICENSES AND LONG LINES.

BUT ALEXA IS LEANING INTO HIS ROLE AS THE STATE LIBRARY INCOME SUCCESSFULLY PUSHING ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS TO PASS ITS FIRST IN THE NATION THAN ON BOOK BANS IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

HE FACED RUSSIANS HAD A U.S. SENATE HEARING ABOUT BOOK BANS THAT ARE DIVIDING THE NATION.

THAT AS MORE LIBRARIES WERE THREATENED BY VIOLENCE , INCLUDING TODAY WHERE ALL CHICAGO LIBRARIES CLOSED AND EVACUATED AFTER BOMB THREATS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE IS ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE ALEXIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> TODAY, ALL OF CHICAGO LIBRARIES WERE SHUT DOWN, AS WERE OTHERS AROUND THE STATE THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THREATS OF VIOLENCE.

WHAT IN YOUR POSITION CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

>> KRISTA VODA, MY HEART ACHES FOR ALL THE LIBRARIANS, STAFF, FAMILIES THAT RELY ON OUR LIBRARIES TO BE A WELCOME CENTER -- A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS TO GO AND READ BOOKS AND DISCOVER NEW WORLDS , PLEASE FOR PARENTS TO PICK THEM UP AFTER SCHOOL -- SO IT IS HEARTBREAKING AND TERRIFYING AND DEEPLY DEPRESSING.

THE IRONY IS AS I WAS ON CAPITOL HILL FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF LIBRARIANS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION THE LIKES OF WHICH THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEING FORCED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND LIBRARIANS WHO WANT TO WORK ANYMORE AS I'M LITERALLY FIGHTING FOR LIBRARIANS BECAUSE OF OUR LEGISLATION, LIBRARIES ARE BEING FORCED TO EVACUATE AND CLOSE THEIR DOORS BECAUSE OF BOMB THREATS.

TROUBLING TIMES.

AND I HOPE THE CRAZINESS STOPS.

>> YOU WERE IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK TESTIFYING BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

WHAT WERE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH?

WERE YOU HOPING TO PUSH FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION?

TO SENATOR GRAHAM'S POINT, OUR LIBRARIES A LOCAL ISSUE?

>> YES.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO A PARENTAL ISSUE TOO.

THE POINT THAT THIS LEGISLATION MAKES IS BOOK BANNING HAS NEVER BEEN GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

WE HAVE TO TRUST OUR LIBRARIANS , WHO HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES IN LIBRARY SCIENCE, LIBRARY INFORMATION SCIENCE, TO DETERMINE WHAT BOOKS BELONG IN CIRCULATION.

YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE OR TWO FRINGE ELEMENTS OR PARENTS WHO DON'T LIKE A CERTAIN WORLDVIEW OR VIEWPOINT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ELIMINATE A BOOK FROM CIRCULATION FOR AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF OUR LEGISLATION.

TO TRUST OUR LIBRARIANS AND TO TRUST PARENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY ON CAPITOL HILL, AS REPUBLICAN SENATORS TURN IT INTO A PARTISAN ISSUE , THEY READ PORNOGRAPHY OUT LOUD, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR BILL WHATSOEVER.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS WE HAVE TO INCREASE PERSPECTIVES, INCREASE SYMPATHY , LET PEOPLE READ BOOKS ABOUT LGBTQ ISSUES AND BOOKS BY AUTHORS THAT HAPPEN TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

SO IT WAS A DANGEROUS MISDIRECTION.

I AM PROUD OF OUR BILL .

I HOPE OTHER STATES FOLLOW SUIT.

>> YOU MENTIONED WHAT SOME OF THE SENATORS READ.

YOU GOT SOME TOUGH GRILLING FROM REPUBLICANS.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THAT EXCHANGE WITH U.S.

SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY FROM LOUISIANA.

HERE HE READS FROM THE BOOK GENDER .

VIEWERS SHOULD BE FOREWARNED THERE IS VERY GRAPHIC LANGUAGE HERE.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOUR COCK IN MY MOUTH.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BLOWJOB OF YOUR LIFE AND THEN I WANT YOU INSIDE OF ME.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT ONLY LIBRARIANS SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER THE TWO BOOKS THAT I JUST REFERENCED SO BE AVAILABLE TO KIDS ?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS -- .

>> DON'T GIVE ME A SPEECH.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SENATOR, THE WORDS YOU SPOKE ARE DISTURBING, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

VERY DISTURBING.

WHAT I WOULD ALSO TELL YOU IS THAT WE ARE NOT ADVOCATING FOR KIDS TO READ PORN.

>> GRAPHIC.

YOUR FIRST REACTION WAS THE WORD, DISTURBING.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> I JUST THINK YOU REALIZE WHEN YOU GET TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

THERE'S A LOT OF SHOWBOATING.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST THERE TO GIVE SPEECHES.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT IS A LOSING BATTLE BECAUSE WERE TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FREEDOM TO LEARN.

IT'S ALWAYS MADE US A GREAT DEMOCRACY AND FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT EDUCATION MEANS, WHICH IS ALLOWED CHILDREN TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

INSTEAD, THEY TALK ABOUT PORN.

THEY TRY THE SHOCK AND AWE FACTOR AS OPPOSED TO EFFORTS BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS TO BAN BOOKS LIKE THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN, 1984 , OF MICE AND MEN , TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, WHICH ARE BEING PULLED OFF LIBRARY SHELVES BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS DON'T LIKE THE WORLDVIEW IT REPRESENTS.

IT IS DANGEROUS .

IT'S WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT.

REPUBLICANS KNOW THEY CANNOT FIGHT ON THAT ISSUE, SO THEY SENSATIONALIZE PORN, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT.

>> DRIVER'S LICENSES.

IMPLEMENT A NEW SKIP THE LINE PROGRAM BY REQUIRING FOLKS TO MAKE APPOINTMENT AT DRIVERS FACILITIES.

HOW IS THAT GOING SO FAR?

>> SINCE THEY WON WHEN I TOOK OVER AS SECRETARY OF STATE , WE LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT IN LINE.

PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF WAITING IN LINE.

WE IMPLEMENTED THIS APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

NOW IF ANY DRIVER SERVICES, YOU SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.

WE MADE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE A WEBSITE.

WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER.

THE IMPORTANT POINT WE WANT TO MAKE IS FOR MOST PEOPLE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A FACILITY.

YOU HAVE A SAFE DRIVING RECORD.

GET IT IN THE MAIL.

GO ONLINE.

A LOT OF THE WORK WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS MODERNIZE THE OFFICE AND BRING IN NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ELIMINATE THE CONTACTS THAT TOO MANY ILLINOISANS ARE PAYING TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

>> EVERYBODY KNOWS THE DMV IS NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING ONLINE SPREAD WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO FOLKS WHO MAY NOT BE TECH SAVVY AND MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MAKING AN ONLINE RESERVATION?

>> AGAIN, WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER FOR FOLKS TO CALL.

THEY CAN CALL AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT .

IF THEY WANT TO GO TO A FACILITY, WE HAVE TABLETS AT OUR FACILITIES.

WE CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM.

THE GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE THIS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT WE HAVE HEARD -- AND YOU MENTIONED WAS A NATIONAL JOKE -- WE WANT TO ELIMINATE THE LINES AT THE FACILITIES.

OUR GOAL IS TO DO IT BUT WE WILL GET IT DONE.

THERE OBVIOUSLY WILL BE A LEARNING CURVE.

PEOPLE DO THE SAME THING FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS TIME-CONSUMING.

>> WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT, WE MEET THE FORMER FIRST LADY OF UKRAINE.

>>> FIRST, LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

♪ ♪ >>> WE ARE JOINED NOW BY A NATIVE CHICAGOAN WHO HAS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON RUSSIA'S ONGOING WAR IN YOUR BRAIN.

THAT'S BECAUSE SHE NOT ONLY LIVES IN THE COUNTRY, SHE WAS ITS FORMER FIRST LADY.

SHE WORKED UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH, AND THEN MARRIED YOU SANKO .

FAMOUSLY SUFFERING A NEAR-DEATH POISONING DURING HER ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AND YOU ARE BACK IN TOWN WITH YOUR HUSBAND .

HOW DOES IT FEEL A YEAR AND A HALF INTO THE WAR ON UKRAINE TO BE BACK IN CHICAGO?

>> IT IS ALWAYS LOVELY TO BE BACK IN YOUR HOMETOWN BUT WE ARE HERE FOR ADMISSION AND THAT IS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY .

UKRAINIANS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

WE ARE HERE TO COMMEMORATE THE UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE FAMINE OF 1932-'33.

IT IS THE 90th ANNIVERSARY.

AND THERE IS A FOUNDATION HOLDING A SERIES OF EVENTS WE WILL BE ATTENDING OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> A LOT OF EVENTS IN A BIG UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY.

YOUR PARENTS CAME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS.

YOU WERE BORN HERE IN CHICAGO.

YOU GREW UP HERE.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT GROWING UP IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, WE GREW UP IN PART OF THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY.

I WAS BORN NEAR HUMBOLDT PARK BUT THEN WE MOVED TO MOUNT PROSPECT.

WE WERE ALWAYS VERY INVOLVED IN THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS ALWAYS VERY STRONG AND VERY COMMITTED.

YOU -- UKRAINE IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN STRIVING FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR MANY CENTURIES.

WAVE AFTER WAVE OF UKRAINIANS HAVE COME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS.

NOW WE ARE SEEING THE NEW WAVE.

MY PARENTS WERE ONE OF THOSE.

THEY CAME HERE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

>> OF COURSE, YOU NOW MOVE BACK TO UKRAINE.

YOU WERE THE FIRST LADY FROM 2005 THROUGH 2010.

WHAT IS KEY HAVE LIKE RIGHT NOW ON THE GROUND?

>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE ARE ALL VERY ANGRY, SAD, TIRED BUT VERY CONFIDENT.

WE ARE ANGRY BECAUSE THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION CONTINUE.

WE EVERY DAY ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING KILLED.

CHILDREN GETTING ORPHANED.

NEW BOMBS.

WE ARE VERY SAD BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE LOSE THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST .

WE ARE TIRED BECAUSE WE ARE UP ALMOST EVERY NIGHT WITH AIR RAIDS .

AND WE ARE WORRIED BECAUSE WE HEAR THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE FATIGUED FROM OUR WAR AND MAY NOT SUPPORT US AS MUCH AS THEY DID BEFORE OR AS THEY SHOULD.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT IN VICTORY.

OUR COUNTRY IS UNITED AS NEVER BEFORE.

FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE.

WE FEEL THIS IS OUR LAST STAND AND WE WILL WIN.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THAT 30 PLUS YEAR BATTLE FOR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE FROM RUSSIA AND THAT BATTLE FOR DEMOCRACY.

YOUR HUSBAND , YUSHCHENKO, WAS PRO-WEST PRO-DEMOCRATIC.

HE WAS POISONED DURING HIS CAMPAIGN IN 2005 .

DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENTS THAT YOU FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD BEEN POISONED?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, HE WAS RUNNING A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ENTRENCHED POWERS THAT WERE VERY CLOSE TO RUSSIA.

AND WHEN HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT UKRAINE WOULD BE MOVING AWAY FROM RUSSIA, INCLUDING TAKING -- TREATY.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET IT BACK IN 2017.

THE RUSSIANS WENT VERY STRONGLY AGAINST HIM AND POISONED HIM.

I DO REMEMBER IT VERY CLEARLY.

IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

INDEED, ANYONE WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE POISONING POINTED TO RUSSIA ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

>> YOU ARE PRETTY SURE RUSSIA AND VLADIMIR PUTIN WERE BEHIND IT.

>> IT HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN PROVEN.

THE TYPE OF POISON USED AGAINST HIM WAS ONLY FOUND IN RUSSIA.

AS I SAID, MOST OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED MOVED TO RUSSIA.

AND IT WAS IN RUSSIA'S INTEREST.

THEY HONESTLY WANTED HIM TO -- THEY COULDN'T IMAGINE A PRO-WESTERN, PRO-EUROPEAN UKRAINIAN LEADER IN OFFICE.

THEY WANTED SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE THEIR PUPPET.

>> YOU REFER TO AS A POSSIBLE PUPPET.

HE DID WIN, BUT THEN THE ELECTIONS WERE DECLARED FRAUDULENT.

UPON REVIEW, YOUR HUSBAND THEN WON AND BECAME PRESIDENT.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS HIS MOVE AND PUSH ?

>> HE WON BECAUSE THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE WENT TO THE STREETS BY THE MILLIONS.

THEY WENT TO THE STREETS TO DEMAND FREEDOM AND A EUROPEAN PATH FOR THEIR FUTURE.

THEY NO LONGER WANTED TO BE UNDER RUSSIA.

IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE COUNTRY WAS DIVIDED POLITICALLY AND HE NEVER HAD A PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY THAT WAS ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH HIS REFORMS.

SO IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FIVE YEARS, INCLUDING A TREMENDOUS DISINFORMATION FROM RUSSIA.

IN FACT, I THINK IT WAS A HYBRID WAR THAT BEGAN THEN .

SO MANY OF THE TACTICS LATER USED IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF DISINFORMATION AND CYBER ATTACKS -- SO MANY OTHER THINGS WERE TRIED OUT ON UKRAINE FIRST.

>> IT BEARS MENTIONING THAT THE PERSON RUNNING YOUR HUSBAND'S CAMPAIGN WAS PAUL MANAFORT, WHO ALSO FOR A TIME RAN TRUMP IN 2016 CAMPAIGN.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT MATT FORD LEARNED A LOT ABOUT RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION TACTICS THAT HE TRIED TO USE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> OBVIOUSLY DISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE WORRIED THAT THE APPETITE FOR HELPING UKRAINE IN THE WEST MIGHT BE DRYING UP.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WARY OF CONTINUING TO SEND AID ?

>> I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN UKRAINE WILL VERY MUCH DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD BECAUSE IF UKRAINE DOES NOT WIN, AUTHORITARIANS AND DICTATORS AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE EMBOLDENED.

IF THE RICHEST AND MOST DEMOCRATIC AND FREEDOM LOVING COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD CANNOT COME TOGETHER AND ELIMINATE AN AGGRESSOR THAT IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE RIGHT ON THEIR BORDER, WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR FREEDOM FIGHTERS IN AFRICA, ASIA, AND LATIN AMERICA?

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF UKRAINE IS VICTORIOUS, I THINK IT WILL REINVIGORATE THE DEMAND DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW?

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT GOING TO BE FOR UKRAINE TO SUSTAIN ITS DEFENSE AGAINST RUSSIA ?

AND HOW LONG CAN THEY?

>> WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT REHAB.

NO MATTER WHAT SUPPORT WE GET, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND WE ARE DETERMINED AS A NATION.

WE ARE UNITED AS NEVER BEFORE.

90% OF THE PEOPLE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT MATTER WHAT.

IT IS A DIFFICULT ROAD.

IF WE HAD GOTTEN ALL THE WEAPONS WE HAD NEEDED, WE COULD HAVE ENDED IT QUICKLY.

BUT THEY CAME VERY SLOWLY.

AS A RESULT, IT IS TAKING US LONGER THAN WE WOULD LIKE.

MORE LOSSES THAN WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I KNOW THAT WE WILL WIN.

>> AND YOUR HUSBAND IS HERE IN TOWN.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO HIM ON MONDAY.

DOES HE STILL FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THAT POISONING TODAY?

>> OF COURSE.

HE HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OVER THE DOSE THAT IS ALLOWED FOR A HUMAN BEING.

I MEANT TO HIM.

OF COURSE, IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT THERE IS NONE.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE EVENTS YOU'RE GOING TO BE ATTENDING.

>> TOMORROW WE HAVE A SYMPOSIUM AT THE ROTARY CLUB WHERE WE WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE UKRAINIAN FAMINE.

AND THAT GENOCIDE THAT WE SAW IN 3233 WAS JUST ONE IN A SERIES OF GENOCIDAL ACTS WE SEE TODAY.

THE SAME GENOCIDES THAT HAPPEN IN THE VERY SAME REGIONS 90 YEARS AGO.

THEN THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL CONCERT.

WE WILL BE MEETING WITH CHILDREN -- UKRAINIAN CHILDREN WHO HAVE IMMIGRATED HERE.

TALK TO THEM.

THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EVENTS.

>> A FULL SLATE OF EVENTS TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT AND TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

KATERYNA YUSHCHENKO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO.

>>> UP NEXT, PREVIEW OF THIS YEAR'S ENGLEWOOD JAZZ FEST.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

OFF ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN HAMILTON PARK TONIGHT.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL JOINS US LIVE IS ATTENDEES ARE HEADING IN.

HEY, ANGEL.

>> Reporter: HEY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE ENGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATING 24 YEARS THIS YEAR.

IS THROUGH THOSE DECADES, THEY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO BUILDING A MUSICAL COMMUNITY AT WHAT IS KNOWN TO BE THE RAVINIA OF THE SOUTH SIDE.

I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH TWO WEDDING JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE ENGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL'S ENSEMBLE, THAT HAS BEEN GEARED TO EDUCATING THE YOUTH .

TAKE A LOOK.

IN JUST THEIR MID-20s, ISAIAH COLLIER AND ALEXIS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PERFORMING FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR LIFETIME.

>> I HAVE BEEN LEADING MY OWN BAND SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

EVEN THOUGH AT THE TIME IT WAS WEDDING RECEPTIONS AND PRIVATE FUNCTIONS, IT REALLY GAVE ME A SENSE OF -- I DON'T KNOW.

JUST A YOUNG BUSINESS OWNER.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS YOUNG PRODIGIES BY COLLEAGUES IN THEIR FIELD.

IT IS THE REASON THEIR MENTORS BELIEVE THEY ARE THE PERFECT ARTISTS TO REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF THE ENGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL.

>> THEY COME OUT OF OUR PROGRAMS.

WHY WOULD WE NOT PRODUCE THEM?

>> Reporter: THEY WERE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG MASTER'S ENSEMBLE, FREE PROGRAM FOR KIDS TO LEARN JAZZ MUSIC.

DOKKEN SAYS IT IS COLLIER'S FUSION AMONG OTHER FACTORS THAT MAKES HIM STAND OUT.

>> HE'S LEARNING FROM SOME INFLUENCERS.

I CAN HEAR BITS AND PIECES OF EVERYTHING HE IS ABSORBED.

THE ENTIRE TOTALITY .

>> I WILL BE THERE ALL THREE DAYS .

ON THE 15th, I'M GOING TO BE PLAYING WITH MY ENSEMBLE.

MOSTLY IN THIS RUN.

SOMETHING CALLED THE ALMIGHTY.

I RECORD THAT WE DID.

THAT PROJECT IS ENTITLED, COGNITIVE TRANSITIONS.

IT'S AN INTROSPECTIVE ALBUM.

>> Reporter: DAWKINS SAYS IT IS HER DRIVE .

>> I LIKE ALEXIS BECAUSE SHE HAS THE ENERGY AND SHE IS AMBITIOUS.

YOU DON'T FIND THAT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT THE ENGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL AS A LEADER.

LEADING MY OWN GROUP.

AND I AM DEBUTING SOME COMPOSITIONS.

I'M DEBUTING A PIECE THAT IS CENTERED AROUND MY SYNESTHESIA.

SYNESTHESIA MEANS THAT TWO SENSES ARE MIXED OR FELT AT THE SAME TIME.

SO I SEE COLOR WHEN I HEAR MUSIC.

>> Reporter: IS THE FESTIVAL LOOKS AHEAD, DOKKEN SAYS THE GOAL WAS TO BE FOCUSED ON CELEBRATING MUSIC WHERE IT ORIGINATED.

>> THE MUSIC HAS COME FROM THIS COMMUNITY ALONG WITH BLUES AND OTHER KINDS OF AESTHETICS.

WHEN I WAS COMING UP, THE MUSIC WAS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT THEM TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS.

WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEIR AGE CAN DO IT.

SOME OF THEM ARE 17 YEARS OLD.

WHEN WE ARE PLAYING FOR PEOPLE THEIR AGE, THEY SAY, WOW.

I CAN DO THAT TOO.

>> Reporter: NOW THE ENGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL KICKS OFF TONIGHT HERE IN HAMILTON PARK.

AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, FOLKS ARE STILL COMING IN WITH THE FIRST PROGRAM BEGINNING SHORTLY IN 10 MINUTES AT 6:00 P.M.

IF YOU MISS TONIGHT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK TOMORROW.

THEY WILL BE HERE ALL DAY ON SATURDAY FOR A FULL FESTIVAL.

LIVE IN HAMILTON PARK, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

BACK TO YOU.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD SHOW, ANGEL.

HOPE YOU GET TO ENJOY IT.

THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE.

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR ALL OF US HERE, I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW, CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM.

VOLUNTEERING