Tom Lantos statue unveiled in home town Budapest

A statue of Hungarian-born former US Congressman Tom Lantos was unveiled in central Budapest near his school on Thursday, marking the day of his birth. Addressing the event in the 13th district where Lantos used to live, David Kostelancik, the US Embassy's Charge d’Affaires, called the congressman "a true gentleman and statesman", "who always focused on the dignity of his fellow humans" irrespective of their political views. Jozsef Toth, the district's mayor, said Tom Lantos was a hero who fought for the cause of democracy and equal rights. He was someone who as a politician was fighting against anti-Semitism, discrimination and genocide and was an advocate of national minority rights, the mayor said.