Czech Foreign Ministry distances itself from controversial event at Bohemian National Hall

The Czech Foreign Ministry has distanced itself from the controversial event held at the Bohemian National Hall in New York on Thursday and said measures would be taken to prevent such a thing happening in the future. Dozens of people gathered outside the building to protest against a gathering  organized by the parental rights group Moms for Liberty, which is regarded as extremist and intolerant of sexual minorities.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský emphasized that the controversial event did not reflect Czech foreign policy and had the ministry known about it sooner it would never have taken place there. He said Moms for Liberty had leased the premises from the expat organization Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association without the knowledge of the Czech Consulate General. Joseph Balaz, chairman of the BBLA, said the organisation would have to change the way in which it rents out space in the building in the future and be more careful about who it rents it out to.