Hungarian revolution commemorated at IU

Fifty years ago, protestors convened for a peaceful demonstration in Budapest, Hungary. Suddenly, the police attacked the group, as many of the group had to fight with their bare hands against the firearms of the police.\nIn commemoration of that day, the IU Hungarian Cultural Association and the Department of Central Eurasian Studies sponsored an event Monday to celebrate the country's independence, which was achieved after the attack inspired a nation-wide revolution against the government. \n"What we celebrate is how the Hungarians used their bare hands to defeat the (pro-Soviet communists)," said Agnes Fulemile, Hungarian chair in the Central Eurasian studies department.\nThe event, recalling the day known as the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, was also cosponsored by the IU Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center and the IU Russian and East European Institute.\nThe celebration opened with a speech by Fulemile describing the history and the causes of the revolution.\nFulemile is a native Hungarian, who grew up at a time when speaking of the revolution was forbidden, she said, because "they wanted to black paint the memory."\nThe commemoration brought Hungarian-born participants from around the state, to engage in a reception.\nAmong the attendees were older adults invited due to their Hungarian heritage and ties. The formal reception held afterward in the Indiana Memorial Union University Club President's Room hosted a variety of Hungarian dishes.\nFumile said the revolution proved that a nation could stand up and fight for freedom.\n"I hope that among the many historic events, those who attended understand (the) personal and emotional burden (of those) who lived through it," Fulemile said. "And also to discover and reveal what is believed in and how those who went through it, how they might have lived (during the time)"