CEU Alumni: a Weekend in Solidarity

April 10, 2017

CEU alumni and friends took to the streets in Budapest and beyond this weekend in continued support of their university and academic freedom. (See pics below.)

Alumni were among the tens of thousands of people who joined in a massive protest in Budapest on Sunday calling upon Hungarian President János Áder to veto legislation targeting CEU.

Demonstrators gathered in front of Buda’s Várkert Bazár before marching across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, past CEU’s Nádor utca campus and on to the Hungarian Parliament for a passionate but peaceful rally against the legislation, dubbed ‘Lex CEU.’

Media reports estimate turnout for the rally—the third in Budapest in one week—between 60,000 to 80,000 people.

Other demonstrations in support of CEU ocurred during the weekend, including a large rally in Berlin as well as events in Amsterdam, Mexico City, Prague, NYC, Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere.

In preceding weeks alumni and friends demonstrated in support of CEU in Vienna, Zagreb, Tbilisi, Bucharest, London, Vilnius, Berlin and elsewhere. Alumni have also signed a 30,000-strong petition, sent letters of solidarity, organized social media campaigns and more.

CEU was not involved in the organization of any of these events but sends a very sincere and massive THANK YOU to all alumni and friends who have banded together to say #istandwithCEU!

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Are you doing something to support CEU? Please tell us what, and why you do it. (Also, be sure to fill out the consent form and be sure to include your school/department, graduation year and valid email address.)

For the latest, join the main CEU Alumni Facebook group and also get the latest and take action at the #istandwithCEU webpage and hashtag on social media.

Budapest, Hungary. April 9