Sinti and Roma have been recognized as an autochthonous ethnic group in Austria for 30 years. At a celebratory event in Parliament, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, acknowledged the progress made towards equality for the minority, but at the same time warned against anti-Semitism becoming stronger again.
The chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani, praised Brandenburg as exemplary with regard to its minority policy. “By making the fight against antiziganism a state goal, the state government is showing its responsibility to history and outlawing antiziganism as well as antisemitism,” said Rose on Tuesday after a conversation with Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD). “It sets an exemplary signal for our democratic constitutional state.”
The German Grimme Prize is considered the most important prize for German TV. The winners have been known for a while, but they only now received their prizes. In the “Information & Culture” category, Peter Nestler was honoured for his documentary film about the injustice against German Sinti and Roma families. He tells of Romani Rose’s family, their resistance and their insistence on justice (ZDF/3sat, 112 minutes).
The chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, has called for more civil courage against racism. “We are experiencing again that people in the crisis are looking for scapegoats,” Rose explained on Monday at the start of the International Weeks Against Racism in Schwerin. “But racism only comes into play when people watch and don’t contradict,” said Rose, referring to this year’s motto “Get involved.”
Munich Archbishop Cardinal Reinhard Marx wants to conduct a review of the historical responsibility of the Catholic Church for the persecution of the Sinti and Rom during the Nazi. Marx visited the documentation and cultural centre of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma.
The visit also dealt in particular with the role of the then Archbishop of Munich, Cardinal Michael Faulhaber (1869-1952) and his attitude towards Sinti and Roma.
The movie “Injustice and Resistance” about Romani Rose and the Sinti and Roma civil right movement will be shown in London in the Goethe Institute on January 27th.
With the so-called Auschwitz Decree issues 80 years ago, the Nazi regime ordered the deportation of Sinti and Roma from all over Europe to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp 80 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of Sinti and Roma fell victim to the genocide.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth and the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, commemorated the Sinti and Roma murdered by the National Socialists at the Sachsenhausen Memorial on Thursday.
The German Conference of Ministers of Education, together with the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the Alliance for Solidarity with the Sinti and Roma of Europe, has passed a joint declaration on teaching the past and present of Sinti and Roma in schools.
With this declaration, the three participants want to work towards schools intensifying their involvement with the past and present of the Sinti and Roma in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. In a special way, as in teacher training, awareness of the topic of antigypsyism should be raised.
Romani Rose, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma is a new member of the International Auschwitz Council. The Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki appointed him to the committee. The Council advises the Polish government on all matters relating to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Other members include Yad Vashem Chairman Dayan and World Jewish Congress President Lauder. Rose warned that nationalists and right-wing extremists in many European countries were trying to deny and relativize the crimes of the Holocaust against six million Jews and 500,000 Sinti and Roma. Every form of Holocaust denial and falsification of history must be opposed. Education programs specifically for young people at historical sites of persecution and extermination are important “to counteract anti-Semitism, anti-Gypsyism and racism in our societies,” Rose explained.
The movie “Injustice and Resistance” (Germany/Austria 2022, 113 minutes) by Peter Nestler received the 3sat Documentary Film Award, endowed with 6000 euros, for the best German-language documentary at the 46th Duisburg Film Week.
In Peter Nestler’s film, civil rights activist Romani Rose talks about his family history and his experiences. As early as 1970 Nestler shot “Att vara zigenare” (“To be a gypsy”) for Swedish television. Back then it was the first film that didn’t talk about the minority, but rather let the people themselves have their say. 52 years later, Nestler shows how stubbornly prejudices and enemy stereotypes have persisted.
The German Federal Government granted 25 million euros for the planned conversion and new construction of the Documentation Centre of German Sinti and Roma in Heidelberg. This was decided by the Budget Committee of the Bundestag. The total cost of the project is estimated at 50 million, so half of it is already covered. With this promise, further steps can now be taken, according to the chairman of the Federal Association of German Sinti and Roma Romani Rose. The first draft by the architectural office “Bez und Kock” is now to be further developed. This had already triggered a debate in the summer of 2021 because some residents of the old town were bothered by the windowless facade. The state of Baden-Württemberg had also promised funding for the project. Romani Rose would now like to speak to the state government promptly about the amount of the grant.
Romani Rose, the Chairman of the Central Council stated that Sinti and Roma influenced Europe’s music and that when people talk about European culture, Sinti and Roma are often easily forgotten. He would therefore like to open a museum as well as a permanent exhibition in the long term.
The Research Centre for Antigypsyism at Heidelberg University has celebrated its fifth anniversary. The chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, said at the ceremony that the research centre made it clear how important it is to also deal with the phenomenon of antigypsyism at a scientific level.
A movie on Romani Rose, Chairman of the Council of German Sinti and Roma where he speaks about his family.
An interview and discussion with Romani Rose, the chairman of the German Council of Sinti and Roma.
The chairman of the German Council of Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, spoke on April 8th about the dangers of thinking along racial lines and of the dangers of extremism.
– Sinti und Roma warnen vor „völkischem Denken“. In: DLF 24. 09.04.2019. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/welt-roma-tag-sinti-und-roma-warnen-vor-voelkischem-denken.2849.de.html?drn:news_id=995258
Germany should live up to its historic responsibility towards Sinti and Roma. The Bundestag passed a corresponding government proposal. An expert panel will submit a report. Romani Rose spoke of an important step.
– Bundestag will mehr Einsatz gegen Hass auf Sinti und Roma. In: Migazin. 25.03.2019. http://www.migazin.de/2019/03/25/bundestag-einsatz-hass-sinti-roma/
A Czech court stopped the prosecution of a man accused of threatening a well-known Roma singer on social medias.
– Czech court conditionally suspends prosecution of man who threatened to kill Romani celebrity. In: Romea. 15.02.2019. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-court-conditionally-suspends-prosecution-of-man-who-threatened-to-kill-romani-celebrity
A study of the Leipzig university shows an increase in authoritarian and extreme right views in Germany. It highlights that every third German has anti-foreigner and racist views. Romani Rose, Chairman of the German Council of Sinti and Roma is warning against this.
Worrisome!
– Leipziger “Autoritarismus-Studie” zeigt den dringenden Handlungsbedarf, um Antiziganismus und andere Formen von Menschenfeindlichkeit zu ächten. In: Presseportal. 07.11.2018. https://www.presseportal.de/pm/128332/4108595
– Extreme Mitte beleuchtet. In: Junge Welt. 08.11.2018. https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/343140.extreme-mitte-beleuchtet.html
– Alarmierende Befunde zum Fremdenhass – mit Hang zur Dramatisierung. In: Die Welt. 07.11.2018. https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article183429356/Autoritarismus-Studie-2018-Erhebung-zu-Fremdenhass-hat-ein-Manko.html
– JEDER 3. DEUTSCHE VERTRITT AUSLÄNDERFEINDLICHE POSITIONEN. In: MDR.07.11.2018. https://www.mdr.de/wissen/antworten/wie-ticken-die-deutschen-autoritarismus-studie-100.html
– Immer mehr Deutsche lehnen Ausländer und Minderheiten ab. In: Augsburger Allgemeine. https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/Immer-mehr-Deutsche-lehnen-Auslaender-und-Minderheiten-ab-id52638306.html
– Mehr Vorurteile gegen Ausländer und Muslime. In: Deutsche Welle. 07.11.2018. https://www.dw.com/de/mehr-vorurteile-gegen-ausländer-und-muslime/a-46172898
Following the derogatory remarks by the EU parliament president Tajani, the Alliance against Antigypsyism is asking him for a clear position against antigypsyism. He had stated that the minimal income that the new government wants to introduce in Italy would land in the pockets of Roma.
Among the prominent signatories: Romani Rose of the German Council of Sinti and Roma.
– Alliance against Antigypsyism demands clear commitment of EP President Tajani against antigypsyism. In: European Interest. 29.10.2018. https://www.europeaninterest.eu/article/alliance-antigypsyism-demands-clear-commitment-ep-president-tajani-antigypsyism/
Deutsch 
English (UK) 
Français 