NGO Migration Aid organizes demo

Organizers say the demonstration, labeled “Not in My Name”, was sparked by the government’s plans to strengthen laws preventing refugees from entering the country, with a legislative package that could be passed by Parliament by the end of this week.

“The civil organization, Migration Aid, has been calling on the Government for the past ten weeks to take concrete measures in order to deal with refugees arriving to Hungary effectively and humanely,” the announcement by the group says. “The crisis is the result of the Government’s manipulative measures and of their obvious lack of a strategic approach toward the problem.”

In its announcement, Migration Aid calls upon all members of the Hungarian government: “(1) to immediately cease their fear mongering and instead engage in substantial measures to address the actual needs arising from the refugee situation in Hungary; (2) to immediately stop demonizing any groups of people; (3) to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and (4) to commit to and play an active role in the European policy aimed at the integration of migrants.”

Migration Aid says it is asking people who are planning to join the demonstration to “demonstrate peacefully, respecting the legal order”. Furthermore they ask “members of political parties to join as individuals and do not use any symbols and signs of political parties.”