They tried to ban Pride. They got Hungary's biggest anti-government protest in years
Warsaw: Tens of thousands of people defied a government ban to march through the streets of Budapest on Saturday, transforming a prohibited LGBTQ Pride parade into the largest anti-government protest Hungary has seen in years.
Despite a warning from Prime Minister Viktor Orban of 'clear legal consequences' for anyone attending the event, police made no move to stop the march, which swelled well beyond the size of previous Pride gatherings.
Organisers estimated the turnout at more than 180,000, including more than 70 members of the European parliament and delegations from 30 countries. Many participants said they were marching not just for LGBTQ rights but in opposition to what they see as an increasingly authoritarian government.
'This is about much more, not just about homosexuality,' protester Eszter Rein-Bódi told Reuters. 'This is the last moment to stand up for our rights.'
The government's attempt to ban the march relied on a law passed in March that prohibits events 'depicting or promoting homosexuality' to minors. The law allows police to issue fines to participants and use facial recognition technology to identify them – measures condemned by civil liberties groups and European Union politicians.
In response, Budapest's progressive mayor, Gergely Karacsony, reclassified the event as a municipal celebration, celebrating Hungary's recovery of full freedom when Soviet troops pulled out in June 1991. On the day, the mayor stood firm in support of the protest.
Later in the day, he added, 'The message is clear, they have no power over us.'
Despite the official ban, police did not intervene, though they were present in large numbers and adjusted the march route after far-right groups attempted to block one of the city's main bridges. The demonstration remained peaceful.
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