Poland – rroma.org https://rroma.org Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:53:45 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://rroma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-greenwheel_large-1-32x32.png Poland – rroma.org https://rroma.org 32 32 Stanisław Opocki https://rroma.org/stanislaw-opocki/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stanislaw-opocki Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:53:45 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35589 Father Stanisław Opocki, a prominent priest and national pastor for the Romani community in Poland, died in a car accident on October 7, 2026, at the age of 73.

He dedicated much of his life to serving the Romani community, initiating significant events such as the first pilgrimage for Romani people in the 1980s, which became a tradition in southern Poland.

His funeral is scheduled for October 13, 2026, in his hometown of Rudka, with official announcements made by the Polish Bishops’ Conference and the Tarnów Diocese.

]]> Józef Merstein Jochymczyk https://rroma.org/jozef-merstein-jochymczyk/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jozef-merstein-jochymczyk Sun, 11 Oct 2026 10:37:27 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35536 Józef Merstein Jochymczyk, a Sinto musician from Poland, shares his life story, including his early experiences with music and family roots. The family moved through Switzerland, Germany, and wartime Krakow ending up in Chrzanov, where he was born.

He highlights the cultural differences and common  roots between Sinti and Roma and reflects on the historical persecution faced by his community. He continues to perform and compose music in the language he learned before Polish, emphasizing the importance of his cultural identity.

]]> ERIAC head on AfD https://rroma.org/eriac-head-on-afd/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eriac-head-on-afd Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:01:44 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35455 Anna Mirga, who heads ERIAC, comments on the recent victory of the AfD in Sachsen Anhalt and on some of the comments somf prominent AfD politicians have made regarding Roma. One AfD MP ordered people she identified as Roma to sweep the streets. Tino Chrupalla, the AfD deputy leader and Bundestag MP suggested that a cache of weapons found in a forest near Berlin had likely been lost by Roma people who had “gone mushroom picking.” he oldest stereotype—that Roma are criminals and backward people—served as a cheap political ploy. The crowd laughed.

]]> Memory Camp https://rroma.org/memory-camp/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=memory-camp Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:10:58 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35305 The XXVII International Romani Memory Camp will take place in Tarnów from October 2-4, 2026, focusing on the history, culture, and contemporary issues of the Romani community, including the Holocaust remembrance.

The event will feature various presentations and discussions by scholars on topics such as the documentation of the Romani Holocaust, language policy, discrimination in education, and the role of local media in combating exclusion.

Participants will also embark on a tour of the Małopolska Trail of Romani Martyrdom, visiting significant locations related to Romani history in the region.

]]> Auschwitz Conference https://rroma.org/auschwitz-conference/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=auschwitz-conference Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:23:26 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35110 An international conference titled “Roma and Sinti – Between Historical Memory and Modernity” will take place on November 24-25 in Auschwitz, organized by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council of Europe.

The conference aims to reflect on the historical memory of the Roma and Sinti genocide during World War II and its impact on contemporary identity and culture.

Participants will include educators and museum professionals, with discussions on the persecution of Roma and Sinti, and workshops on teaching without perpetuating stereotypes.

]]> Auschwitz Paintings https://rroma.org/auschwitz-paintings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=auschwitz-paintings Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:14:33 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35012  Dina Gottliebova Babbitt was forced to create watercolors of Roma prisoners for Nazi physician Josef Mengele during the Holocaust, and she spent her life trying to reclaim these artworks from a museum.

Despite her efforts, the museum has refused to return the paintings, citing their historical significance and legal acquisition.

Babbitt’s daughters are now pursuing legal action to retrieve the artwork, highlighting the ongoing debate over art created under duress during the Holocaust.

]]> Exhibition https://rroma.org/exhibition-16/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exhibition-16 Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:10:36 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34697 If you happen to visit Poland in the upcoming months, “Weś gilaweł / The forest Is singing”, an exhibition of works by Małgorzata Mirga-Tas dedicated to the memory of the Romani genocide, has just opened in Zakopane and will be on display until 31 January.

]]> Young Roma https://rroma.org/young-roma-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=young-roma-2 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:29:39 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34503 The young Roma generation is determined to overcome discrimination and stigma in areas like education, housing, and employment, seeking self-determined paths.

Antiziganism is on the rise, with historical prejudices deeply rooted in society, leading to increased racism and stigmatization of Roma children.

The article highlights individual stories of young Roma who are breaking barriers and advocating for their rights, showcasing their aspirations and the challenges they face in a society that often marginalizes them.

]]> Racial Persecution https://rroma.org/racial-persecution/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=racial-persecution Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:32:22 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34074 Accodting to the article, the roots of Nazi persecution of the Roma can be traced back to changing perceptions of the group during the modernization of European societies, as discussed in Sławomir Kapralski’s book “Naród z popiołów”.

In the 19th century, racial theories emerged that interpreted social and cultural differences as inherent biological traits, leading to the ‘naturalization of difference’ and viewing Roma as biologically distinct and unchangeable.

This perspective shifted the view of Roma from a social problem to a biological one, resulting in their increasing exclusion and eventual persecution, including sterilization and extermination.

]]> Łódź https://rroma.org/lodz/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lodz Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:05:17 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34020 A memorial ceremony was held at the Romani Forge in Łódź to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Romani and Sinti Genocide during the Holocaust, recalling the tragic fate of over 5,000 Romani and Sinti prisoners held in a Nazi camp in 1941.

The event highlighted the importance of remembering the extermination of Romani people during WWII, and the ongoing need for education and awareness to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

Local officials emphasized the horrific conditions in the Litzmannstadt Ghetto and the subsequent deportation and murder of survivors in extermination camps, urging reflection on the lessons learned from this dark chapter in history.

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