The memorial is located at Felvonulási tér (Parade square), the site where a statue of Stalin was toppled on October 23, 1956. According to the designers and architects, "the abstract, wedge-shaped form focuses on this moment, a unique expression of common will of freedom. Along the axis of the memorial, the columns become denser, their materials become shinier, and the structure grows higher until they unify in a concise, 8 meters high, stainless steel block."

While the structure is an impressive one in bulk, and size, it seems that the average visitor that passes by the memorial has no idea that it is there to remember the 1956 revolution.  It has also become clear that when the memorial was first thought of, the various 1956 groups were left out of the loop and were not consulted about which memorial could make the grade.

Last weekend there was a festival devoted to the Mangalica pig, so there were many people milling around the memorial.  Asking the question, "do you think this is a fitting memorial to 1956," answers received included "I think it's more of a memorial to rust," "I don't understand it," "this is a memorial?" and the ever-so-succint "no."

Now the main 1956 groups are getting together to remove a memorial that some have labelled "a slap in the face" and say they have gathered enough funding themselves to pay for the memorial to be removed.  These groups include Corvin-köz Fraternal Community, Pest Boys Foundation, World Federation of 1956 Hungarians, and the 1956 Foundation, arguably the most influential Hungarian groups that fight for the memory of 1956.

Ms Mária Wittner is a member of Parliament for Fidesz and also fought during the 1956 Revolution, suffering shrapnel wounds in combat before being arrested in the ensuing crackdown.  She was first sentenced to death for her involvement in the Revolution, before her sentence was commuted to life in prison.  She was released in 1970 after serving 14 year behind bars.  Wittner was one of the very last revolutionaries released from prison.

Wittner has been one of the most vocal opponents of the memorial and has even said that the memorial is a better tribute to those who put down the revolution - the Communist authorities and the Soviet Union - rather than the Hungarians who fought for liberty.

Wittner says, "the present memorial is little more than a slap in the face to the martyrs and the revolutionaries. It reminds me, much more, of the time after 4 November when the city was invaded and the bloody reprisals began."

Were the city to accept the groups' offer, then the memorial would be pulled down before the 55th anniversary of the revolution (this year) before another memorial is put up for the 56th anniversary.

Mr László Trencsényi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Pest Boys Foundation, knows that the coffers are tight and that the city probably cannot afford to take the memorial down.  He said, "we know that the government and the capital's financial situation is difficult, therefore we offer all our help. We would bear the costs of the demolition. The city administration has to do nothing but give us permission."

Mr Miklós Csomós,  Deputy Mayor of Budapest for Educational and Cultural affairs says that the memorial and its possible removal are not on the city's agenda as yet.

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