"But the government has realised that no matter what it bans, it doesn’t have enough police officers," Hadhazy said, insisting that "techno-fascist legislation modelled after those of Putin and China has been drafted, allowing for facial recognition systems to be used against opposition sympathisers, which in Europe could only be used against serious criminals and terrorists".

"We are here because we know that this … was started to ensure that fewer people will protest against future laws," he said. "There’s only one path: forward. The only solution is to protest, to make demands and a refusal to stop," he said, announcing another demonstration for next Tuesday.

Addressing the government’s supporters, Hadhazy said those at the demonstration were also protesting for them, calling on those "who are inconvenienced by the traffic closures" to attend the next protest.

"The sooner a critical mass is reached, the sooner the demonstrations will end," he said.

Former central bank governor Peter Akos Bod said in a video message played at the demonstration that "the government’s attempt to turn Hungarians against each other … serves as a distraction from the consequences of their poor governance".

Dorottya Redai, a staff member at the Labrisz Lesbian Association, said "the government’s homophobia and transphobia make the lives of 500,000 to 1 million people miserable", adding that under the new constitutional amendment, "100,000 transgender and 50,000 intersex people will cease to exist legally".

Actor Tamas Lengyel urged Hungarians to vote the government out next year "so that we can rebuild solidarity and live in a more united Hungary".

Catholic theologian Rita Perintfalvi said the protest was not just about Pride "but about us, as together we say no to the deprivation of rights, because the right of assembly is a fundamental right of which no one can ever deprive us".

MTI's on-site correspondent reported that after the speeches, protesters started making their way from Elisabeth Bridge towards Liberty, Petofi and Margaret bridges.

The metropolitan police (BRFK) said demonstrators had unlawfully blocked off Elisabeth Bridge and obstructed traffic on others. After 7pm, several protesters made their way to Liberty Bridge, blocking it in its entirety, BRFK said in a statement, adding that traffic had been diverted in the interest of safety.

Traffic has also been diverted from Petofi Bridge after another group blocked it around 7.50pm, they added.

Police said at 7.55pm they had instructed the protesters on Liberty Bridge to move to the sidewalk. In the meantime, the protesters had also blocked the entirety of Margaret Bridge, they said.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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