Never in my life have I faced such adversity . . . never have I been so inspired.

By now, you’ve probably heard the stories coming out Budapest: our conference being banned by the Hungarian Prime Minister . . . our perseverance and willingness to take a stand for our ideals . . . our speakers being threatened with deportation . . . my arrest and imprisonment by the Hungarian state for thought-crimes . . . and our event taking place, against all odds.

Crises reveal character. And I am tremendously proud of our how our institution and broader movement responded. Despite the government’s ban, attendees came from around the world to meet fellow Europeans and have a conversation about our future. After I was arrested and detained, Jared Taylor, aided by comrades, stepped into my place and hosted what was, from what I hear, a joyous and stimulating gathering.

The night of my arrest encapsulated the dual nature of this past weekend—adversity and inspiration. I was apprehended by police in a Budapest pub, where dozens of attendees and I had gathered to build fellowship before the next day’s conference. The room was filled with our European family: Britons, Canadians, Scandinavians, Flemish, Croatians, and more. We instantly became old friends, though most of us were meeting each other for the first time.

I was reminded of the need for groups like The European Congress, a forum and meeting point for European identitarians and traditionalists.

And I was reminded of the necessity of The National Policy Institute.

At NPI, we produce original writings on RadixJournal.com, featuring the work of Gregory Hood, Michael McGregor, and all the regulars. We publish new books, with a lineup that ranges from Richard Lynn to Piero San Giorgio to Tito Perdue to Alexander Dugin. We host conferences and public events, which have featured, among many others, Alain de Benoist, Tomislav Sunic, and Jack Donovan.

We are doing things that are powerful, things that are getting noticed, and things that rock the boat.

We are willing to take risks. And we are willing to take hits.

There are certainly more pleasant ways of spending a weekend than in a Hungarian jail; however, if I were to do it over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. We must never lose our nerve as our adversaries react . . . and overreact . . . and try to shut down our projects. (And if we’re not upsetting the establishment a litte bit, then we’re probably doing it wrong.)

We’re more powerful than we might believe. Our power stems from our resolve, from our pride, and from our audacity.

And you make it possible. Your tax-deductible donations to NPI are the lifeblood of everything we do. Giving to us is a direct way of aiding your comrades who have taken risks and made sacrifices. It’s a way to “do something.”

Over the past week, our movement and our ideas have received a tremendous amount of coverage, and generated sympathy and good will from surprising sources. Our challenge is to ensure that this doesn’t become just another passing moment, but instead becomes a watershed in the rediscovery of European consciousness.