EDITOR: The new law referenced below bans hate groups and the ‘neo-Nazi’ paramilitaries that had been terrorizing Hungary’s Roma (Gypsy) population over the past year. The occurrence that drew the world’s attention was the evacuation over Easter weekend of 276 women and children from a Roma village by the Hungarian Red Cross assisted by the American House Foundation. The first such evacuation by the Hungarian Red Cross since 1956 (the Hungarian short lived revolution) was in anticipation of dangers from a scheduled three day provocation by hundreds of uniformed members of a neo-fascist vigilante group hostile to the Roma population. Richard Field grew up in Lancaster and is a graduate of McCaskey High School.
Dear Prime Minister Orbán:
I congratulate you, deputy prime minister Zsolt Semjén, Minister of the Interior Sándor Pintér, and president of the parliament László Kövér on the passage of this historic piece of legislation. You have displayed great courage and outstanding leadership. And you have done great honor to your country.
I also congratulate those members of the opposition parties who voted in favor of this bill.
We cannot bring back the sacred dead. We can only honor their sacrifice by protecting the living.
Hungary is renewed.
With great admiration and respect,
Richard Field
Chairman
American House Foundation
Huh.. If Mr. Field congratulates Mr. Orbán then the Prime Minister must really think hard what he had made wrong. It was Richard Field who tried to instigate panic among the local Roma population by that “evacuation”.
I am sure that a handful of engaged people like Richard Field had a lot to do with getting this law drawn up and passed. Activists get disappointed and frustrated quite often. How sweet when you get rewarded with success.
Congratulation dear Richard Field Thank you!