In May 2020, a major demonstration took place in Budapest on Deák Square, organised by the far-right Our Homeland Movement (Mi Hazánk Mozgalom) party in repsonse to the murder of two young people. Because of the suspects’ alleged Roma origin, the party advertised the demonstration as an action against “Gypsy crime.“
Antigipsyism
Organised in the wake of a tragic incident, the 2020 demonstration at Deák Square in Budapest quickly shifted focus from justice to ethnic scapegoating. Far-right groups and extremist supporters used the event as an opportunity to spread hate speech and reinforce harmful stereotypes about the Roma community. The atmosphere was charged with hostility, as participants openly blamed Roma people for social problems, fueling division and fear.
Speakers and participants openly invoked the concept of “Gypsy crime,” chanting racist slogans and demanding the return of the gendarmerie, a historical symbol of ethnic repression. Rethoric blamed the entire Roma community for the crime, despite later evidence showing the perpetrator was not of Roma origin. This event exemplified how far-right actors exploited public fear and prejudice, using misinformation to incite hatred and reinforce negative stereotypes against the Roma minority.
“Concerning the Roma population in Hungary, it is particularly alarming that various social groups espousing extremist views — including football hooligans — can make openly anti-Roma statements within the framework of public events.”
Statement by the National Roma Self-Government