THOUSANDS of protesters blocked major thoroughfares and three bridges in central Budapest on Tuesday in opposition to new rules that effectively ban LGBT Pride events and restrict Hungarians’ right to assembly.

The demonstration in the capital was the second within a week since Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party used its two-thirds parliamentary majority last Tuesday to fast-track the law.

Chanting “democracy” and “assembly is a fundamental right,” thousands poured onto one of the city’s busiest roads, igniting colourful smoke bombs and blocking traffic. They went on to blockade three of the city’s bridges spanning the Danube, facing lines of police blocking their path.

Demonstrator Paula Antalfy said she believed the government’s recent steps to ban certain public events were “yet another step in the direction of dismantling democracy.”

“I feel like love should be free, and who you love is not a decision in any way,” she said. “That we would not be able to gather like this, as we do now and stand in our own streets, in our own city, is something I just can’t agree with.”

Hungary’s new law makes it an offence to hold or attend events that violate Hungary’s contentious child protection legislation, which prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to under 18s.