Some 2,000 protesters gathered in downtown Budapest to counter a demonstration by extreme right-wing groups.
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder joined the anti-fascist protest on April 11.
Schroeder, in Hungary to speak at a conference, told the protesters, “We are many, but we need more people to defend against the extreme right.”
The extremists were far outnumbered by the counterprotesters.
The counterprotest was responding to the announcement of a demonstration by extreme right groups who planned to gather at a ticket office in Budapest, where a staff member reportedly had refused to sell a ticket to a concert by an extreme right-wing group. The shop where she worked was firebombed and its windows were smashed.
Jewish and Roma groups have been concerned about recent developments among extreme right groups.
Notably in August, the Magyar Garda, a wing of the extreme-right party Jobbik, was formed. The Magyar Garda was involved in the demonstration that prompted the counterprotest.
Jobbik members wear black uniforms similar to those worn by Hungarian fascists in the 1940s.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
