Leeds Riots: The Tabloid Views

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Needless to say, now that the rioters were Roma, tabloids are in full swing.

Sweden, Roma, and Organisations

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The Swedish Institute for Language and Folklore ISOF has filed a criminal complaint for the first time.

Unit manager Ester Enhsmyr wrote to Radio Romano that it concerns the Sinti and Roma Council in Umeå, which has submitted deficient accounts of contributions of SEK 100,000 thousand (roughly 8’600 euros).

Riots in Leeds

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There has been a large riot in Leeds, UK, with police cars overturned, a bus set afire, and reports of looting and other property damages.

Why did they occur: Apparently, a family with 5 children had a toddler admitted in hospital with head injuries. Social Services decided immediately to take over all 5 children while the parents were away working. This resulted in a clash, with police intervention, and the whole situation escalated rapidly.

There is so far no official statement on this, and the protagonists are reported to be of Romanian origins. Romanians on social media of course said these were Roma, which is probable.

Really bad.

Reaction to the Slovak Experiment

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A Slovak MP, Ingrid Kosova criticizes the project of the Ministry of Education to teach Roma children in Romanes. She says that up to 65 percent of Roma children encounter segregation during education. They do not encounter other children, they lose the opportunity to escape from the environment of generational poverty. It is not just a historical, cultural or economic question. It is first and foremost a deeply moral question. The consequences of segregation in schools are humiliating and dehumanizing. First of all, politicians can change it. However, they are failing miserably, and the result is that, according to the data of the European Union, Slovakia is the worst in terms of segregation among the member states. And the situation continues to worsen.

Slovakia and Roma Education

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The Slovak Ministry of Education launched a pilot project where Roma children are taught in Romanes. This is a scandal and cementing the segregation of Roma in school. It certainly will not help integration.

Hungary: International “Gypsy” Song Day

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On August 8, 2024 – the birthday of the legendary North Macedonian singer Esma Redžepova – the International “Gypsy” Song Day will be held for the third time. This year, 15 venues in six countries will participate in the event series and 50 bands will perform at home and abroad on the initiative of Mihály “Mazsi” Rostás. The face of the series of events is Mónika Lakatos, a Romani singer who won the Kossuth and WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Awards. The International Gypsy Song Day celebrates diversity with the participation of legendary Gypsy and non-Gypsy artists with a range of venues and programs that expand every year.

Slovakia, Roma, and Health

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The Slovak Ministry of Health reacted to the comments of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’ Flaherty, who, after a recent visit to Slovakia, called on the Slovak authorities to urgently address the “terrible living conditions” of thousands of Roma, and improve their access to health.

The ministry said they would support programs for “socially excluded groups”.

Let’s see.

Serbia: Brawl

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During the evening hours in Ljubić polje in Čačak, South Serbia, there was a massive brawl between Roma which left two people injured.

Bad.

Jerzy Ficowski

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The Association of Roma in Poland reacted to the accusations against Jerzy Ficowski published in a book by Dr. Emilia Kledzik, who accused Jerzy Ficowski of excessive interference in the translation of the works of Papusza, i.e. Bronisława Wajs, using the word “forgery”.

The Association stated that “We believe that the allegations presented are unfair and require taking into account the appropriate historical context.”

Oda na kames …

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Oda na kames [what you don’t like] is a two-year project of the Ara Art organization, which aims to map hate speech and violence against the Roma minority on the Internet and in real life.

Pilsen, Roma, and Ukrainians

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Jiří Winkelhöfer, Pilsen city councilor for security and crime prevention, said that Roma crime prevention assistants have been working in the Pilsen Municipal Police since 2013. “Since last year, four more assistants with knowledge of the Ukrainian language, because tens of thousands of refugees have found refuge in Pilsen,” he added.

Slovakia and Roma

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After a recent visit to Slovakia, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty called on the Slovak authorities to urgently address the “terrible living conditions” of thousands of Roma. In the east of Slovakia, he visited Stará Tehelňa in Prešov, Jarovnice, Petrovany, Luník IX in Košice and Kecerovce, where he met with representatives of Roma communities, local authorities and groups working with Roma.

“Prejudice against Roma is deeply rooted in society. Discrimination affects all areas of Roma life in Slovakia: from placing Roma women in separate maternity wards to segregated Roma children in education. Many Roma are deprived of access to adequate housing and are rejected in job interviews, ” he stated.

Roma Gang

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Two articles in the Czech press about a gang of young Roma in the town of Šternberk who beat up a young girl and broke her nose.

This is bad for all Roma.

O Mulo

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A story about Mule: A traditional rural story by Ilona Ferková and a short story from the city by Rena Horvátová. Strange things happen, and Mule are not far.

Roma in the USA

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The Roma organization Rom Sam Yekh organized a debate in New York about the future of the Roma in the USA. The event was organized on the occasion of International Roma Day. The main meeting of activists and experts took place on April 22 in Brooklyn and discussed the education, identity, traditions and rights of the American Roma.

“This evening is not about me, it is not about my family, it is not about my community. This evening is intended to raise awareness of the fact that Roma are united, that is, all Roma are one nation. Even though we have different cultures, we are all one,” said Michael Ciuraru, the main organizer and co-founder of the Roma Sam Yekh group, which deals with the education, culture and history of the Roma in the United States, in an interview with ROMEA TV.

Slovakia, the UK, and Roma

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A reportage in Spiš, Slovakia, where many residents of the Roma settlement work in the UK and return home with nice cars, luxury goods, and renovate their houses. The story from exclusion to integration, albeit in another country.

Amaro Fest

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Over the weekend, Nitra, in Slovakia, will host the eighth annual international Roma festival called Amaro Fest 2024 – open air gipsy festival. As the organizers from the civic association Roma Art Agency stated, in addition to promoting culture, the festival is supposed to support Roma identity and contribute to the social and cultural inclusion of Roma. “Amaro Fest 2024 will offer performances by professional Roma artists from abroad and from home. The audience will see dynamic dance ensembles and the world star from Germany Ricard Kwiek with a live band, Ján Bendig will come from the Czech Republic,” the organizers informed.

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