A third young Rom was killed by the police in Athens after a police chase. According to the police, the gun went off when the young Rom tried to grab a pistol from the police.
He is the third young Roma killed by the police in Greece in as many years.
Not surprising, Paris is launching a “social clean-up” ahead of the Olympic games next year. As a result, Roma are being expulsed. In Nantes, a Roma camp that has existed for several years is being shut down, a decision that doesn’t make the unanimity in the local government. France is also continuing its expulsions, even though, since November 1st, people should be protected by the winter moratorium. Close to Switzerland, residents are protesting against travellers’ degradations. Finally, scrap metal collectors have been condemned for stealing metals, and for reselling them.
As a child, Angelina Kappler was excluded because she comes from a Sinti family. Today the young winemaker and former German wine queen is committed to fighting antigypsyism. This brings her a lot of positive feedback, but also hate online.
The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma issued a statement saying that they are deeply concerned by the increase of antisemitism and crimes and attacks against Jews in Germany.
They are right.
More articles this week about Roma. First, on the International Romanes Day, then about Roma themselves.
In Western France, the closure and expulsion in Nantes of a Roma camp results in divisions and oppositions. Parents are protesting the removal of Roma children from school. This is good, as it may start forcing authorities to be a bit more integrative.
Further South, a mayor refuses the authorisation for a photo exhibition about Roma. In the Loire valley, in Angers, the question of the integration of Roma is asked. Then, the usual: Two camps, one near Paris, one in Marseilles have been closed.
Romanes is still not recognised as a national language in Italy.
Romani Rose commented in detail about the conflict between the Heidelberg-based Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the federal association founded two years ago. The dispute led to the planned state treaty and the financing of the conversion and new construction of the Documentation Centre for German Sinti and Roma being put on hold. Romani Rose calls on the federal government to face up to its responsibilities and support the Central Council’s commitment rather than blocking it.
In 2011, the former so-called “Rat House of Neukölln” was bought by a Catholic housing company. Since then, Roma and non-Roma have been living there together at reasonable rents. The housing project is considered a successful model of integration.
Not much news in the French Press about Roma. People in Nantes, in Western France are mobilising to fight against the expulsion of a Roma camp without decent housing alternatives. Other than that, 70 caravans are squatting the parking of a high school in Savoie, and 6 Roma arrested near Paris for a series of burglaries.
A study by the university of Padua, Italy, surveyed Roma in Genova. There are of course Sinti Piemontese, Bosnian Roma, and more recently arrivals from Romania.
According to research by the University of Padua, conducted as part of the European Hero project, whose leader is Liberitutti Cooperativa Sociale, “of the Roma and Sinti communities present in the city, those relocated following the dismantling of the camp in via Adamoli appear to be the more integrated and recognised, even at an institutional level”.
So if they are given good living conditions, they integrate. What a surprise …
The Onassis Foundation House presents in October and November a series of actions that highlight the issues of the Roma community in Greece.
A performance – Romáland, a VR experience – On the road to Colonos, a film – Sam Roma: We Are Gypsies and a discussion available online for some months “Roma without mediation” ask questions and talk directly about the problems but also the dynamics of the Roma, giving the speech and the space to the individuals of the community itself.
In Germany, the number of reported crimes and discrimination against Sinti and Roma is increasing. The German federal government’s antigypsy commissioner complains about everyday racism that cuts across all areas of society. An interview with Mehmet Daimagüler about causes and solutions.
In 1972, the small village of Niederthann in the Pfaffenhofen district became the scene of a crime: four shots were fired, a young, pregnant Romni lost her life, and another was seriously injured. The historian and author Hans Woller has reconstructed the criminal case and will read from his new book “Hunting Scenes from Niederthann” on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ingolstadt city library. A lesson about racism.”
Not much this week in France on Roma. This is usual, if there are enough other news… In Toulouse, the 10thedition of Rencont’roms in the Balcanika festival. In Marseilles, schoolchildren not being able to do sports as the sports hall is being squatted by Roma; in the same city, 4 squats were evicted. Near Paris, a large open air garbage dump on the site of a former Roma camp is being cleaned up. Of course, it was all left by the Roma who lived there. Finally, two Romanian Roma who were stealing scrap metal were condemned in Niort.
An exhibition in the Ingolstadt City Museum from Sunday, October 22nd deals with the persecution of the Sinti and Roma from the Ingolstadt region before, during and after National Socialism. The so-called “second persecution” after 1945 is also discussed: the long road to recognition of the genocide, the fight for compensation and against the police “special registration”.
The architect Daniel Libeskind was awarded the European Sinti and Roma Civil Rights Prize.
There is still opposition to the current plans for the new S-Bahn in Berlin which passes very near to the memorial for the Roma victims of the Nazis as well as to other prominent landmarks.
More news this week about Roma in the French press. First a conference that will take place next week about the Genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust, and its French specificities. This is quite uncommon. In Rezé, in Western France, an open reunion between the mayor, politicians and residents about a project for Roma resulted in insults and threats against politicians. Then, more of the usual news. Near Paris, a camp that was disbanded has turned in a huge open air garbage dump; in another commune around Paris, residents are complaining of the stench created by a Roma camp; in another one, Roma were forced to leave their camp all the while being threatened and insulted by local residents; in Grenoble, a camp was closed; and finally in Strasbourg, an article about row between two Romanian Roma families which ended tragically in an accident.
The head of the German Railways visited the Sinti and Roma Documentation centre. He stated there is no place in the railways for antitziganism.
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