Hungarian police have officially banned this year’s Budapest Pride march, a move that has sparked outrage among human rights advocates and deepened concerns over the country’s escalating crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.

The march, planned for June 28, was set to mark a major moment for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community — but authorities say it won’t be happening. In a statement released Thursday, Budapest’s metropolitan police said the event would not be allowed under a new law passed in March that empowers police to block LGBTQ+ gatherings under the banner of “protecting children.”

That law was pushed through Hungary’s parliament by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s right-wing Fidesz party, which holds a strong majority and has increasingly leaned into Christian conservative values to appeal to rural voters.

Mayor Defies the Ban

But Budapest’s liberal mayor, Gergely Karácsony, isn’t backing down. On Monday, ahead of the police statement, he announced that the city would host the event as a municipal celebration — meaning it wouldn’t require formal approval from the authorities.

“The Metropolitan Municipality will host the Budapest Pride Freedom Celebration on June 28, the day of Hungarian freedom, as a municipal event. Period,” Karácsony wrote in a Facebook post. He added that the police ban is irrelevant because the event wasn’t submitted through official channels that would require their permission.

Organizers say tens of thousands are expected to attend what is now being framed as both a Pride celebration and a protest against the government’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Orbán’s Longstanding Anti-LGBTQ Stance

Prime Minister Orbán has made his stance on LGBTQ+ issues increasingly clear in recent years. His government has rolled out a series of measures aimed at restricting LGBTQ+ visibility, from limiting same-sex adoption to banning content in schools deemed to “promote homosexuality.”

Back in February, Orbán made his position even more blunt, saying LGBTQ+ activists “shouldn’t even bother organizing Pride in Budapest this year.”

With national elections looming in 2026, and a rising opposition party threatening his political grip, Orbán appears to be doubling down on culture war issues to rally his base.

The Bigger Picture

Hungary’s Pride march has grown over the years to become one of the most visible LGBTQ+ events in Central Europe. Blocking it sends a powerful — and chilling — message, critics say.

“This isn’t just about a parade,” one activist noted. “It’s about freedom of expression, assembly, and human dignity — all of which are under attack.”

As June 28 approaches, all eyes will be on Budapest — not just to see whether the event goes forward, but to gauge how far Hungary’s government is willing to go in curbing civil liberties in the name of conservatism.

Source: CNN – Hungarian police ban Budapest Pride march

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From New York to Los Angeles and small towns in between, Americans flooded streets, parks, and plazas on Saturday in one of the largest coordinated protests against former President Donald Trump since he left office. Organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrations claimed that millions participated nationwide, standing shoulder to shoulder to defend democracy and denounce what they view as authoritarian overreach.

While most events remained peaceful and celebratory, pockets of violence and confrontation emerged, raising concerns about escalating tensions.

A Nationwide Movement

The marches were loud, colorful, and charged with a mix of passion and patriotism. Protesters chanted slogans like “No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down,” waved American flags—some held upside-down in distress—and carried banners denouncing Trump’s immigration policies and executive actions.

In major cities like New York, Chicago, Austin, and Denver, tens of thousands danced, sang, and drummed their way through downtown streets. Atlanta’s rally maxed out its 5,000-person capacity, with thousands more spilling outside barriers. Seattle saw an estimated 70,000 attendees, according to local officials.

In Washington, D.C., around 200 protesters gathered near Logan Circle, chanting “Trump must go now” as a caricature puppet of Trump—crowned and seated on a golden toilet—was wheeled through the crowd.

Hotspots of Tension and Violence

Despite organizers’ calls for nonviolence, tensions occasionally flared:

• Los Angeles: Police used tear gas and crowd-control munitions after a peaceful demonstration ended. Protesters had earlier interacted peacefully with stationed National Guard troops but were later met with force as officers moved to clear federal building areas.
• Salt Lake City: A shooting during a downtown march left one person critically injured. Police detained three people, including the suspected shooter, who also suffered a gunshot wound. The motive remains unclear.
• Culpepper, Virginia: A 21-year-old man was charged with reckless driving after intentionally accelerating his SUV into departing protesters, injuring one person.
• Portland: Federal officers fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs outside an ICE building. Police later declared the event a riot after confrontations escalated.

Voices from the Crowd

Many attendees shared deeply personal reasons for joining the protest:

• Karen Van Trieste, a nurse from Maryland, said she was concerned about Trump’s impact on public health and democracy: “We need to defend what’s left of it.”
• Peter Varadi, who once voted for Trump, marched through downtown L.A. waving a Mexican-American flag. “I regret my vote,” he admitted. “This is fascism now.”
• C.C. Téllez, a Bolivian immigrant, said: “I’m the American Dream, and there’s room for everyone else too.”

Protesters in New York handed out American flags and wore suffragette white. Others held signs that read “Fight Oligarchy” and “Deport the Mini-Mussolinis.”

Local Flashpoints

• Minnesota: Despite warnings from Gov. Tim Walz following the shooting of Democratic lawmakers, thousands still turned out in Duluth, Rochester, and St. Paul. A suspect had “No Kings” flyers and names of victims in his car.
• North Carolina: Protesters in Charlotte rallied and marched through downtown, led by a group carrying a giant Mexican flag. “We can’t stay silent,” said college student Jocelyn Abarca.
• Texas: A credible threat temporarily shut down the Texas Capitol in Austin. The rally proceeded after the suspect was arrested in nearby La Grange.
• Mississippi: Protesters in Jackson gathered on the Capitol lawn, donning tinfoil crowns and blasting Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” “We’re losing the thread of democracy,” said Melissa Johnson.
• Portland: Earlier in the day, protesters marched peacefully, but by evening, ICE officers fired tear gas and detained several demonstrators.

A Turning Point?

As the nation grapples with the fallout of immigration crackdowns, executive overreach, and militarized federal responses, the “No Kings” movement appears to signal a renewed wave of civic engagement—one that cuts across geography, race, and even political history.

“Today, across red states and blue, Americans stood in peaceful unity,” organizers said in a statement. “We don’t do kings.”

Source: AP News – Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks and plazas across the US. Organizers say millions came

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LONDON — Eighty years ago, Europe erupted in celebration as World War II came to an end on the continent. But as the world marks Victory in Europe (V-E) Day this year, the joy is tempered by a sense of unease, shaped by the echoes of past conflict now resonating in present-day realities.

May 8, 1945, signaled the surrender of Nazi Germany and the collapse of Adolf Hitler’s regime after years of war, genocide, and devastation. It was a day that brought hope to millions — and it’s still commemorated across the continent with parades, services, and solemn remembrance.

Yet as Europe honors the sacrifices of the past, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the rise of far-right movements, and increasing global tensions cast a long shadow over today’s celebrations.

A Day That Changed History

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul marked the occasion by acknowledging the deep wounds of the past — and the duty that comes with remembering.

“Hardly any day has shaped our history as much as May 8, 1945,” he said. He credited the Allies for freeing Germany from the grip of Nazism and emphasized that the memory of WWII’s atrocities compels modern Europe to stand firmly for peace and freedom.

The end of WWII created the conditions for an unprecedented period of European unity — culminating in the formation of the European Union, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. But now, even that hard-won peace feels fragile.

A Fragile Peace in Modern Europe

The war in Ukraine — Europe’s largest land conflict since WWII — rages on more than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. And democratic values within the EU are facing new challenges from the rise of hard-right political movements.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking at a memorial in the Netherlands, warned that “Europe’s carefree comfort” has ended. “This is the time for European mobilization around our fundamental values and our security,” he said.

Even NATO, the transatlantic alliance that helped preserve peace for decades, is feeling internal pressure and political strain.

America’s Role and Reflection

The United States played a pivotal role in ending the war in Europe — especially through the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, in June 1944. Those actions paved the way for the final defeat of Nazi Germany.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared Thursday a day to celebrate American victory in WWII, saying, “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”

While WWII officially continued in the Pacific for months after V-E Day, the legacy of that victory — and America’s contributions — remain central to modern reflections.

Taiwan Echoes the Warning

In a new twist this year, Taiwan joined V-E Day commemorations for the first time. But its focus was not on past enemies — rather, on present threats.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te issued a pointed message amid rising tensions with China, which claims the island as its territory.

“Military aggression against another country is an unjust crime that is bound to fail,” Lai said. He compared Taiwan and Europe’s shared challenge of facing down a “new authoritarian bloc.”

Commemorations Across the Continent

Across Europe, events this week are blending remembrance with resolve.

In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the lessons of WWII are more relevant than ever: “The idea that this was all just history and it doesn’t matter now is completely wrong,” he said. “Freedom and democracy matter today.”

The U.K. will mark the day with a special service at Westminster Abbey and a major concert at Horse Guards Parade for 10,000 attendees.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to lead a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will lay a wreath at the national memorial for victims of war and tyranny — a powerful reminder of how far Germany has come since 1945.

Russia Marches to Its Own Beat

In contrast, Russia — which suffered immense losses during WWII and played a major role in defeating Nazi Germany — will observe its Victory Day a day later, on May 9.

President Vladimir Putin is set to oversee a massive military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, symbolizing how Russia’s view of WWII — and of itself — remains out of sync with much of Europe, especially amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.

A Day of Dual Meanings

While V-E Day remains a powerful symbol of triumph over tyranny, this year’s anniversary carries a dual message — a celebration of peace, and a sober reminder that peace must be protected.

As Europe honors the past, it must also confront the uncertainty of the present — and the challenges of preserving the values that emerged from its darkest hour.

Source: AP News – 80 years ago World War II in Europe was over. Celebrating V-E Day is now tinged with some dread

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