Hungarians declare resistance to Orbán's government with a large protest

Ferenc Isza / AFP via Getty Images

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Around 15,000 protesters filled a square in Hungary's capital Tuesday in what organizers called the beginning of a resistance movement against the government of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Nearly two dozen public figures including writers, actors, musicians and journalists joined the demonstration in Budapest. Most of the speakers criticized what they see as the government's increasingly anti-democratic conduct. Some alleged corruption benefiting those with ties to Orbán's Fidesz party.

"This country doesn't belong to those who lie, who rob from the people, who have sold their humanity for power," said one speaker, Csaba Bogos. "This country belongs to those who dare to think, who can read between the lines, who trust