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THE LIVING MEMORIAL AND THE SZABADSG SQUARE RESISTANCE

[ABOUT] The Living Memorial Group was created by the demonstrations against the German occupation

monument on Szabadsg [Liberty] Square. The groups first flash mob involved placing stones, candles,

mementos and two white chairs on the appointed site of the monument. The chairs symbolized the need for

public dialogue. Later, when the construction of the monument was in progress, the group brought 12 white

chairs onto the square and started the series of discussions that are continuing unfalteringly to this day. In

the beginning, we have talked mainly about the questions of historical remembrance and social

responsibility; later, along with the number of chairs and participants, the scope of our subjects has also

expanded. In the last five months, all the important social issues have been discussed. The discussions at

Szabadsg Square are open to the public; anyone can join in, if they wish to. This openness guarantees the

spontaneity of the debate, its liveliness and diversity. In this public realm, there is an opportunity for people

who are isolated from each other in society to meet. A shift of opinion which is required for social change

can only happen at the intersections of different groups and networks. Naturally, there can be some

tension at these intersections, which is (partly) why we try to conduct these discussions with a few simple

rules of moderation.

[OUR DEMONSTRATION] We wont let the statue erected by the government become a monument of the

German occupation, as it promotes the falsification of history. According to the Prime Ministers Office,

This is to set in stone: without the German occupation, there would have been no Holocaust, without

disputing the role of the Hungarian state in the events. [1] The statue accurately represents the first part of

this statement, but it does more than that: it shifts the blame further onto the present Germany. However,

the artist entirely failed to represent the responsibility of the Hungarian state. The Living Monument is one

of the demonstrating groups of the ongoing Freedom Square civil resistance. Together, we built the

Counter-Monument which represents the true relationship of our communities and families to our past.

With authentic remembrance, we have forced the government to back down, as we have achieved that the

monument would never get formally inaugurated. We shall keep demonstrating and holding discussions on

the square, caring for our objects and our memories, until the statue gets removed in a lawful manner. [2]

A monument is not completed by simply erecting a statue. It is completed if a ceremonial space exists

around it, which includes the act of remembering. Ceremonies, celebrations transform the statement made

by the statue into a widely accepted, community-building idea. On Szabadsg Square, the civilian population

is educating itself instead of formal ceremonies; the counter-monument, the Living Memorial has taken over

the space. The Szabadsgsznpad and the Living Memorial discussion circle continue organizing daily cultural

events, and we join other demonstrations together. The newest element of the movement is the Living

Europe Free University, starting with Ungvry Rudolfs lecture series. It is held in MSZI, a cultural and

community space, Tuesdays at 18:00. Living Memorial discussions are held Mondays and Thursdays at

present, from 17:30 at the Szabadsg Square mobile pavilion, as a discursive demonstration. [3]

[HISTORY] On December 31, 2013, the second Orban administration of Hungary adopted a government

resolution about building a monument on Szabadsg Square, Budapest. The monument was intended to

commemorate the German occupation of Hungary on March 19, 1944. The plans, which were revealed on

January 19, 2014, as well as the decision that lacked any kind of public or professional consultation,

generated numerous objections by Hungarian and international public figures.

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Following these events, the Human Platform initiated the creation of an informal group consisting of

civilians, activists, artists, art historians. The purpose of this group was to draw public attention to the

problems and controversial meaning of the monument commissioned by the government, as well, as to

prevent the building of the monument in its planned form, if possible. Following a number of meetings and

brainstorming, the group decided to do a flash-mob on March 23, 2014. They asked the participants to

bring stones and candles in remembrance, a small cross or any personal item that expresses our emotions,

our personal involvement; and lets place these with dignity upon the stone parapet of the underground car

park entrance. Lets create a substantial pile from these diverse personal items, so that it expresses the wish

of the members of our nation to come to terms with our losses together, in a self-critical way. On the

appointed day, the organizers placed two white chairs facing each other on the spot before placing the

personal items, and they have also created a Facebook group for the initiative.

On April 8, two days after the Hungarian parliamentary elections of 2014, in spite of the demonstrations and

the Prime Ministers earlier assurances of consultations, that never took place, the construction of the

controversial occupation monument began. The Living Memorial, which had been named thus by art

historian Andrs Rnyi for the first time, was designated as a construction site and was cordoned off. This

made the other demonstrating groups focus on Szabadsg Square, as well, and together, they have brought

down the cordon. The Living Memorial was liberated for a short time, and the construction was delayed,

since the edge of the pavement, cleaned up during the working hours, became a shrine again in the

afternoon; the cordon was knocked over and the personal items placed down, day after day.

The founders of the Living Memorial published an appeal to Create a Living Memorial for Hungarians from

ourselves and our discussions! From April 17, 2014, the two white chairs symbolizing he counter-

monument based on the idea of the artist Gyrgy Jovnovics were increased in number to host the

discussion circle that would be able to initiate public dialogue.

Chairs with Living Memorial written on them would be on the square every day from then on. Anyone could

sit down and share their opinions with the discussion circle, whether they were in favour of the statue or

not. This was the beginning of the discussion series that continues to this day. Along with the number of

chairs, the number of participants has also expanded.

Beyond the civilians joining us spontaneously or deliberately, we have started inviting guests: artists, art

historians, sociologists would introduce topics; elderly people, Holocaust survivors came forward to tell their

stories. The tension during these discussions made feelings run high at times; to handle this, we successfully

adopted a form of nonviolent communication by way of a moderation technique. This is the discursive space

that enables people of wildly differing backgrounds to come together. We have learned these methods from

the practices of the Occupy movements, collaborative art and direct democracy, and optimized it for the

situation on Szabadsg Square. /Balzs Horvth, responsible organizer, January 2015/

Continuing the Living Memorial Discussions during the winter was made possible by the heated mobile

pavilion designed by Balzs Byron Horvth and constructed by the activists of the Living Memorial Group.

At present, discussions are held Mondays and Thursdays from 17:30.

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[DEMONSTRATIONS ON SZABADSG SQUARE] On April 27, 2014, the group has organized a demonstration

on Szabadsg Square, then joined the March for Life, a march designed to pay tribute to the victims of the

Holocaust. In June, the group took part in the Yellow-Star Houses events. The Facebook group Clear

memory for freedom and democracy, led by Fruzsina Magyar, Imre Mcs, and Andrea Zoltai, also holds

gatherings on Szabadsg Square. From August, the daily presence on Szabadsg Square is maintained by the

Living Memorial and Szabadsgsznpad (Freedom Theatre), a daily cultural protest event. The latter has been

created by Gbor Seb and Gbor Nmethi with other Szabadsg Square activists. From October 2014,

Szabadsgsznpad and the Living Memorial demonstrate in turns on the square every day.

[DISCUSSION PARTNERS A NON-COMPREHENSIVE LIST] Jnos Sugr artist; Jzsef Mlyi art historian;

gnes Eperjesi artist; Gyrgy Konrd writer; Mria Vsrhelyi sociologist; Anna Lnrd artist, Bupap;

Emese Krti art historian; gnes Darczi journalist, activist; Jnos Brsony lawyer; Hajnalka Tarr

artist; Pter Molnr freedom of speech expert; Lszl Mikls Chairman of Hungarian History Teachers

Society Andrs Rnyi art historian; Katalin Tmr art historian, curator; Zoltn Kiszelly political

scientist; Pter Bndek political philosopher; Csaba Tth political scientist; Gspr Mikls Tams

philosopher; Balzs Bcskei political scientist; Jlia Kirly economist; Bernadette Somody and Lszl

Majtnyi Etvs Kroly Foundation; Zoltn Lakner political scientist; Balzs Nagy Navarro leader of the

Clean Hands for a Democratic Hungary movement; Istvn Hegeds chairman of the Hungarian Europe

Society; Szabolcs Szunyogh journalist; Annamria Szke art historian; Endre Szkrosi intermedia artist;

Zsolt Srs visual poet; Aladr Horvth civil rights leader; Jen Zsig sociologist; dr. Ferenc Raj rabbi;

Lszl Ersi historian; Emke Bagdy psychologist; Tams Bodoky editor-in-chief, tltsz; Szilrd Teczr

journalist, Magyar Narancs; Mikls Barcs musician (Flash); Tams Bart journalist; Gerg Kovcs party

leader (Ktfark Kutya Party); Gergely Litkai comedian (Duma Theatre ); Mikls Paizs musician (Sickratman);

Krisztin Peer poet; Ferenc Seb theater director (Anarchista Theatre); Attila Antal political analyst; gnes

Heller philosopher; Rudolf Ungvry writer; Endre Kukorelly writer; Imre Mcs engineer and civil rights

activist, Fruzsina Magyar, dramaturge; Balzs Gulys activist; Zoltn Pogtsa economist; Csaba Nemes

artist; Istvn Bnfalvi social policy expert; Pter Somlai sociologist; Lszl Trencsnyi university

associate professor, founding member of HAT; Attila Janisch movie director, Gbor Havas sociologist,

Judit Cski film critic; Dniel Dek Faculty of Law, Corvinus University of Budapest; Szilvi Nmeth

curator..

DECLARATIONS BY THE FOUNDERS OF THE LIVING MEMORIAL

Friends, Hungarians, fellow countrymen!

At 16:00, March 23, 2014, we are organizing a flash-mob named Living Memorial my history to the site of

the German occupation monument, by the entrance of the underground car park on Szabadsg Square,

Budapest. Our goal is to prevent the construction of this political symbol propagating a historical deception.

For the flash mob, bring stones and candles in remembrance, a small cross or any personal item that

expresses our emotions, our personal involvement; and lets place these with dignity upon the stone parapet

of the underground car park entrance. Lets create a substantial pile from these diverse personal items, so

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that it expresses the wish of the members of our nation to come to terms with our losses together, in a self-

critical way.

Lets create a substantial pile from these diverse personal items, so that clearing them from the site with

heavy equipment would constitute a scandalous act of sacrilege. May this, at least, make those falter who

wish to abuse their power. We would like as many of our fellow countrymen as possible to place their own

sacred symbols a symbol of willingness to repent and to forgive onto this unsought gravestone of our

history.

(We provide stones and candles on the spot.)

The event is not a campaign. There will be one speech only, but it is our hope that the demonstration will

continue.

Friends, Hungarians, fellow countrymen!

Lets make the site of the deceitful, cold monstrosity-monument the starting-point of the introspection of

Hungarians willing to listen to each other! Instead of political animosity kindled by manipulation, we

Christian, Jewish, Roma and all other minority or majority Hungarians have to be open for each others

stories, to understand each other.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. a hundred years is roughly the time

the memory of families can be called living memory. An abundance of knowledge, documents and stories are

buried in old briefcases or the memories of families, undiscovered and undiscussed. We have shared, or

dared to share very little in the way of personal experiences about this miserable century to ourselves and

to others. This is why we are starting a social movement by the name of Living Memorial my history, and

ask our compatriots to tell, to share what their family memory holds or remembers about our shared past.

Lets make public platforms in social media to enable the bottom-up way of organizing this sharing of stories,

this dialogue.

Pter Bndek

dm Gaborjk

Gyrgy Jovnovics

Mt Kernyi

Balzs Kicsiny

Szabolcs Kisspl

Andrs Lukcs

Csaba Nemes

Teri Szcs

Andrs Rnyi

and the Living Memorial My History Facebook group