New Delhi, June 28 -- Tens of thousands of Hungarians and international allies flooded Budapest's streets Saturday in a historic show of defiance against Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ban on Pride celebrations.

Waving rainbow flags and signs declaring "Freedom and love can't be banned," crowds estimated at over 35,000 marched past newly installed facial-recognition cameras, a tool authorities threatened to use for identifying participants. The 30th anniversary event, which began at the opposition-run city hall, unfolded peacefully despite scorching heat and police warnings of "legal consequences" for attendees."I am proud to be gay... and I am very scared that the government wants to bring us down. I am very surprised that there are so m...