The World - News from March 16, 1989

Tens of thousands of Hungarians took to the streets in Budapest to celebrate new freedoms in one of the largest displays of nationalist sentiment since the anti-Soviet uprising in 1956. It was the first time in 41 years that Communist officials had made a public legal holiday of the March 15 anniversary of Hungary’s unsuccessful revolt against Austria in 1848. A 12-point declaration calling for more freedom and independence was read at a large rally in front of the Hungarian state television offices. The declaration also demanded the withdrawal of Soviet troops, a multi-party political system and freedom of speech and the press.