Follow Up: What is New in the Sirály Story? The experiences of two CEU students.

Original publication: The CEU Weekly, Issue 32, April 10, 2013.
http://ceuweekly.blogspot.hu/2013/04/follow-up-what-is-new-in-siraly-story.html


As you might have read in the previous issue of The CEU Weekly, Sirály was evacuated following the discovery of a WWII Soviet grenade in Király utca, after a series of conflicts between the capital’s mayor’s office and Marom Cultural Association. The mayor’s office let Marom work in Sirály until the 3^rd of April, until the end of Passover, accepting the request of the Jewish Community. However, not even the last week of Marom’s work in Sirály could pass in complete peace.

On April 29, Easter Friday evening (and during Passover), while a drag-show was taking place in Sirály, 20-25 policemen invaded the club asking for identity documents from everyone inside. They did not answer questions regarding the aim of their action. Some CEU students were present as well. Diana and Chris kindly agreed to share their personal experiences from that evening with our readers.

Diana Labiris remembers that

“The show had wrapped up and there was a bit of a dance party on stage. I was just sitting in the audience. A man came on stage to announce that 10 police had arrived and that we could leave if we wanted or stay and get checked. He encouraged us to stay, to make the point that we were allowed to be there, but I was a little concerned because I didn’t have my documents. So my friends and I tried to leave, but the police had blocked the doors and were checking everyone’s IDs. It was a bit of a tense wait—about 10 minutes or so—but they ended up just asking for my birthdate and letting me leave. The police were just like you normally find them on the street—quiet, stern. A little menacing, but probably just by virtue of how big they are. Didn’t seem to want any trouble. The audience was pretty confused and a little scared. Especially those of us who didn’t have our documents! We didn’t really know what they wanted with us so we were just a little concerned about what they might do. The performance wasn’t really disturbed, per se. But it was really disappointing that the night was cut short. It was pretty clear that the police wouldn’t have been there had it not been a drag show—it obviously had something to do with the politics of the thing. That was the most upsetting part for a lot of people.”

And Chris Zivalich, who himself was one of the performers told us:

“I went to Sirály to perform drag. The entire show went fabulously, though I was frustrated with the police disruption. The police officers themselves are not as much to blame as the political climate in which leftist activism is routinely monitored and disciplined. The audience as a whole might have been annoyed with having to stand outside, whip out ID cards, and adhere to ridiculous “security” measures, yet this did not stop us from enjoying ourselves. The party went on after the police invasion with as much energy, smeared make-up, drunk dancing, and unapologetically queer sass as ever before!”

After the end of Passover, Marom Cultural Association ceased its activity in Sirály. István Tarlós, mayor of Budapest, and the leaders of Marom agreed that Marom would empty the club by April 30. Ádám Schönberger, president of Marom nonetheless reassured everybody that they will continue their cultural activity as soon as possible, although they have not yet found such an appropriate place as Sirály. It is clear that the mayor of Budapest – following the Hungarian government – is fighting hard to suffocate every youth club that can be suspected of giving space to leftist or nonconformist activism. However, in numerous youth clubs of Budapest there is civil resistance to such authoritarianism. István Tarlós succeeded in closing Tűzraktér last year; now Sirály is no longer rented by Marom. It is getting harder to find a place for activism outside the current political establishment, and associations like Marom are increasingly having to search for support from within the private sphere. Nevertheless, students and young intellectuals (not only leftists, but those who are simply open for reasoned dialogue) will undoubtedly go to new clubs as well to further discussion and debate.

Agnes Kelemen

With the contribution of Diana Labiris and Chris Zivalich