Category Archives: United Kingdom

Several people protested outside a venue where Jimmy Carr was having a show.

Good.

• Protest takes place outside Jimmy Carr Cambridge gig in response to Roma joke. In: The Guardian. 16.02.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/16/cambridge-protests-to-be-held-outside-jimmy-carr-gig-in-response-to-roma-joke
• Jimmy Carr faced with protesters over Holocaust joke outside Cambridge gig venue. In; The Evening Standard. 16.02.2022. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jimmy-carr-protests-holocaust-joke-cambridge-gig-venue-b982907.html

Roma and Travellers are accusing the UK government of duplicity, on one side condemning Jimmy Carr’s statements and on the other, implementing a new law that makes trespassing a criminal offence and that threatens the Traveller’s way of life.

• Roma accuse government of hypocrisy over Jimmy Carr joke. In: The Guardian. 07.02.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/feb/07/romas-accuse-government-of-hypocrisy-over-jimmy-carr-joke

A review of a Channel 4 documentary “60 Days with the Gypsies”. Well, the documentary reinforces some stereotypes, but the reporter did somehow change his mind and came to be with his origins …

• 60 Days with the Gypsies, review: a far cry from Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, thankfully. In: The Telegraph. 07.02.2022. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/60-days-gypsies-review-far-cry-big-fat-gypsy-weddings-thankfully/
• Channel 4’s 60 Days With The Gypsies prompts viewers to take fresh swipe at Jimmy Carr. In: Birmingham Mail. 07.02.2022. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/channel-4s-60-days-gypsies-23018920
• ‘Welcome to the family’: Amazon explorer who held prejudices about Travellers is stunned to learn of his own gypsy heritage while spending 60 days with Romany community for CH4. In: The Daily Mail. 07.02.2022. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10484575/Former-army-captain-discovers-gypsy-heritage-filming-documentary.html
• Amazon army captain who held prejudices against travelling community stunned by his own gypsy heritage. In: Metro. 07.02.2022. https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/07/60-days-with-the-gypsies-ed-stafford-stunned-by-gypsy-past-16065211/

Needless to say, the press coverage is negative…

• Gypsies, Roma and Travellers portrayed negatively and inaccurately in the press, report finds. In: The Canary. 03.02.2022. https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2022/02/03/grt-people-portrayed-negatively-and-inaccurately-in-the-press-report-finds/

Roma have one of the lowest children covid vaccination rate in the UK, at 12%.
Bad.

• Disparities in children’s Covid vaccination rates map England’s social divides. In: The Guardian. 01.02.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/01/disparities-in-childrens-covid-vaccination-rates-map-englands-social-divides

A large manifestation is expected  in the UK today to protest against the new police laws. Among others, thee laws will criminalise trespass in a way that is aimed at Roma and Travellers.

• Thousands to rally to kill the police, court, crime and sentencing bill this weekend. In: Morningstar. 15.01.2022. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thousands-rally-kill-police-courts-crime-and-sentencing-bill-weekend

An editorial on the new law currently being debated in the House of Lords which not only threatens protests but also criminalises Roma and Travellers way of life.

• The UK is heading towards authoritarianism: just look at this attack on a minority. In: The Guardian. 12.01.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/12/uk-authoritarianism-minority-policing-bill-roma-gypsy-traveller

An article on the Roma community of Coventry.

• The fascinating history of Coventry’s Roma community. In: The Coventry Telegraph. 09.01.2022. https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/fascinating-history-coventrys-roma-community-22560484

Seems that in spite of what has been said and pushed by conservatives, most Travellers camping sites last summer were legal …

• Most caravans pitched in Hampshire in summer were on authorised sites. In: daily Echo. 04.01.2022. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19821955.caravans-pitched-hampshire-summer-authorised-sites/

An essay on people’s views of what a Rom should look like.

• HOW IS A GYPSY SUPPOSED TO LOOK? In: The Norwich Radical. 15.05.2019. https://thenorwichradical.com/2019/05/15/how-is-a-gypsy-supposed-to-look/