VIDEO: Hungarian police used tear gas against students protesting for their teachers
Student organisations held a demonstration in Budapest on Wednesday evening, in protest against planned legislation changing teachers’ employment status.
Participants of the protest organised by the United Students Front gathered at St. Stephen’s Basilica and marched down Alkotmany Street to the square in front of Parliament with Hungarian flags and posters depicting chequered shirts, a symbol of teachers’ demonstrations. They also carried banners reading “Change!”, “General strike!”, “Tear gas does not teach”, “Down with the status law!”, and banners of teachers’ union PDSZ.
The crowd chanted slogans such as “No teachers, no future!”, “Free country, free education!” and “Strike is a fundamental right!”.
At the square, speakers noted an earlier protest when demonstrators were dispersed with tear gas when they tried to dismantly a cordon near the prime minister’s office. They announced a “seven point referendum” with questions on “shall there be democracy in Hungary” and “should Interior Minister Sándor Pintér resign”.
After the speeches, organisers told demonstrators that the event ended, but announced another immediately after, a march to Clark Adam Square across Margaret Bridge.
Here, Tímea Szabó, a lawmaker of the opposition Párbeszéd party, thanked the participants for their endurance of protesting for the cause of education for 400 days.
“With the new law on the status of teachers, [ruling] Fidesz has destroyed the future of young Hungarians,” she said, urging the demonstrators “to keep fighting”.
Leaving the square, the demonstrators marched to the Buda Castle to the offices of the prime minister. Párbeszéd lawmaker Bence Tordai, independent lawmaker Ákos Hadházy and Momentum leader Ferenc Gelencsér were in the crowd.
Police called on the demonstrators to take one step back while demonstrators responded by chanting “You are protecting criminals!” and began to dismantle the metal barriers at a nearby construction site. Some of the demonstrators climbed up on the scaffolding and threw objects at the police. Police officers attacked protesters by firing tear-gas.
Budapest police said on its website that five protesters had been taken into custody against whom legal proceedings had been initiated.
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
The 16-year-old student in the picture, who was defending himself, was also attacked by the police, who sprayed tear gas at his face from 25 centimetres away. According to witnesses, the officers shouted “beat him, beat him” at each other. The police did not notify the parents even at 22.45.
In the Telex video, a 15-year-old boy tells that he was wearing a mask because of the tear gas, as many of them did. However, he was brought before the police because he cannot use it under the law on assembly and is facing criminal charges. Also in this video, a mother is seen trying to wash her son’s eyes clean.
Source: MTI
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13 Comments
Incredibly sad. All they want is decent working conditions and livable salary for teachers so studets get good quality education from motivated teachers. And all authorities give them is tear gas and threats. Oh yes, I did read that government promised a big raise to teachers´ salaries but conveniently coupled the salary raises to the frozen EU funds so if and when they don´t get every penny of those funds, its going to be the evil Brussel and EU´s fault that Hungarian teachers have such low salary, at least according to Hungarian government. Good domestic political tactics, horrible for the future of students and teachers.
They used tear gas because the Viktator ordered it.
I am sure that mariavontheresa and michaelsteiner are so happy, so so happy to be supporting this government. And where is our “FAMILY” president in all this? Or is this her idea of “pro family? Silence = Complicity in these horrible acts upon the children of this country! Sad!
They used teargas because the “students” broke and entered into private property and began to “throw objects” at the police. Perfectly proportionate.
It is not up to the student bodies to establish condition of employment of the teachers. Neither the students nor student bodies are the employers and they certainly do not pay the bills. The government’s aim is to provide a good education at a reasonable cost.
When students protest peacefully and do not hinder other citizens, do not destroy property and do not enter illegally, no tear gas is ever used. Students have an exaggerated sense of their importance. They are children, supported by parents and other taxpayers. They should just say “thank you” and do not behave like a group just escaped from a mental institution.
Students sure don’t pay bills in Hungary, and with attitudes like these, they never will. Better for them to find future elsewhere where their children in turn have better options to have good education by motivated teachers. You always want better for your children than what you got for yourself, right? Hungary cannot provide good education with the costs government spends on education.
I told you it would make mariavontherea and michaelsteiner happy, just look at their posts and now know what kind of people they are!
The opposition could hardly wait to whip up their ‘useful idiots’ into a frenzy and take videos which they use in anti-government ads. Perhaps they forgot about their guru Gyurcsány’s violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators a while back. The opposition has nothing constructive to offer, only negativity and sarcasm.
INCORRECT comments AGAIN – made by Steiner & mariavontheresa – that are just BLINDED by the Political Ideas & Philosophy of the Dictator of Hungary -Victor Orban.
Orban – has throughout his 13 years in POWER – has “ripped off” – Education.
Abused, Neglected, Insulted, – then the “on-going” – Fabrication of Truth & Fact(s) – that are driven through the Orban propaganda machine.
Orban – dismal FAILINGS – has been his governments NEGLECT – to INVEST into Education.
Educators, over the (2) two “goes” – Victor Orban has been Prime Minister of Hungary – have been patient, used DEMOCRATIC procedures, in there dealings with this Orban Government.
Orban – has maintains his ABUSE – his positioning of Education in his personal life – which has Harmed & Damaged just not the country of Hungary -but the youth, our Future, by what Orban has pursued, his Government have PRACTICED – the “vandalization” and HARM – Orban and his Government carry on their shoulders.
Educators through there ‘Vocation” to Educate – is a VITAL need and ingredient – into the FUTURE of Hungary.
Hungary – what Orban has left us with at this very point in time – is that there is NO Money to Invest into Education.
Educators rightfully request of salary increases, facilities – schools, universities and “other” places of learning – that ALL are the RESPONSIBILITY of a GOVERNMENT – to control, manage and improve – NEGLECTED that see’s “Chunks” of buildings, campus of universities, schools and “other” places literally falling down, or of age resembling the 19th century.
Orban – his Government are CASH strangled.
Education – he “plays with” – that is a DISRESPRCTFUL, ” insulting game” – that he Orban thinks he CONTROLS.
Orbans Government – we know they control the media, the judiciary and use when required Rule by Decree, in there Governance of Hungary.
Hungary under Orban is NOT a DEMOCRACY.
The European Union – MESSAGE” to Orban – is TELLING him that, labelling Hungary, under Orban – as being un-Democratic.
If Orban has his WAY – which he WON”T – he, his Government want to ADD that Education in Hungary – is there “ownership” – joining media, the judiciary and Rule by Decree – under there POWER.
Opposition and Demonstrations directed at the Orban Government – must continue in the ORDERLY fashion that they are being conducted.
Educators/Educators – we are NOT the PROVOKERS of anger, in seeking our future RIGHTS under use of DEMOCRACY in Hungary.
Orban – his Government – they are the AGGRESORS – by attitude THINKING they can Rule & Control Education in Hungary.
They are a VIOLENT aggressive Government.
DEMOCRACY is Dialogue.
Education – opens the Windows of OPPORTUNITIES.
I hate to see this. Once you start attacking a cordon fence the police have the right to respond and how they respond with the right balance is very delicate. Whenever tear gas is used against students, parents and teachers how does it make the government look? I have talked with Hungarians who have school age children and what I am told is terrible. There are not enough teachers and people with no qualifications are brought into schools to teach. Middle schools and high schools are lacking teachers for fundamental subjects such as mathematics. The result is that the school system is graduating poorly educated students who do not have required skills for the workforce. Companies in Hungary are recruiting from abroad for better talent. The future of Fidesz Hungary is a nation of poorly educated sheep which perhaps will be easier to control. Smarter people think for themselves and will be critical of their politicians.
The teachers Union control education in the US. Used to have best schools in the world now its in the bottom half. NYC spends most money on education and has the worst schools- anyone who can afford it would never send a child to public school. Even some of the most expensive private schools are maxist indoctrination along with many of the best universities
I am a “maxist.” I believe in living life to the max and I have been subjected to maxist indoctrination in this pursuit. I make typos too. I have some problems with public school teaching in Canada and my children were in both public and private schools at different stages. Three years of private school saved my daughter’s life and sent her on an incredibly successful trajectory. Public schools are good at putting a large volume of average children through a standardized set up but cannot deal properly with those who lag or excel. I hate using the pejorative term but there is “wokeism” in the school boards and I think it’s a bit of a fad that will eventually swing back to a middle ground. I don’t have a problem with individual public school teachers. I wouldn’t worry about teachers turning your children into Marxists or Fascists. Their political indoctrination happens primarily in the home. As they get older if they are smart enough they can think for themselves.
A.Tendom: Please do share your “constructive offer” about how to improve Hungarian education and teaching staffs conditions. I’m honestly curious to hear constructive solutions.