To combat discrimination, the Roma in Duisburg, Germany, have to organise themselves. This is all but simple.
The Freiburg Roma Office has presented its fourth discrimination report. It collects subjective experiences of discrimination by Sinti and Roma, as well as reflections on the coexistence of majority society and minorities and the communication between them.
On Tuesday, the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic approved the working definition of anti-Roma racism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). This was reported by the Slovak TASR agency. Slovak Roma representative Ján Hero welcomed the decision of the NR SR.
In Sokoľany, whose written records date back to the 13th century, they organize a Village Day celebration every year (the tradition was disrupted only in the last two years by covid).
However, this year on September 10, it happened for the first time that the celebration was divided into two parts – the Roma had a reception in the settlement, the main celebration was at the football field. Someone says that it was segregation, someone on the contrary – that it was a bonus for the Roma.
In addition, there are suspicions of vote buying for the local municipal elections in a Roma settlement in Eastern Slovakia. Unfortunately, not uncommon in many places.
A report of the discriminations faced by Roma and their lack of possibilities of recourse against these in the judicial system in Hungary and Serbia. This is bad but not surprising.
An interesting article and interview of Agnieszka Kościańska adi Michał Petryk, the authors of a book titles “Polish Racism” on the prevalence of racism in Poland and the use of the term “Negro” in Polish. On Roma, it says that they have “always been invisible”.
According to Agnieszka Kościańska, Anti-Gypsyism in Poland and Eastern Europe is a phenomenon similar to classical racism. We have Roma who live in ghettos, are lowest on the social ladder, and often visually stand out on the streets of Polish cities. This situation limits their opportunities for work or education. At the same time, we hear from everywhere: “It’s their fault,” “They discriminate themselves,” “They don’t care about their education,” “They don’t know how to take care of their homes,” and so on.
A candidate from the Lega in Florence, Alessio di Giulio, produced a video showing a Romni and saying, “vote for me to never see her again”.
There have been numerous reactions, but let’s not forget that a large part of the population unfortunately probably agrees with him. That is scary. In any case, it shows the inherent racism of the Italian far-right.
An article on a refugee “camp” for Roma from the Ukraine in Brno. It is a makeshift camp to say the least, is a makeshift one. They are confronted with racism and with the refusal from the Czech to help Roma from the Ukraine, claiming they have Hungarian citizenship. Racism can be seen from statements such as the ones of Jan Polák, head of the social welfare department: “They are used to living a nomadic way of life.” They say they don’t need anything, because “it suits them to be somewhere on the lawn”.
The Opre Roma Srbija movement announced today that the decision of the “Klet” publishing house to replace the reading question for the third grade of primary school in which a historically offensive word for Roma was used does not change the essence of the relationship towards the Roma community, but that it is a step in the right direction, because represents the continuity of their historical struggle against inequality.
The controversy surrounding the third-grade reading book that was supported by the education ministry has been ongoing for a while. The government has denied any involvement but initially let the material through.
Another article on the third grade reading book with stereotypes on Roma published in Serbia. The Education ministry declines all responsibility although they were involved. The text uses the term “Cigan” and, as an example says: “A gypsy asked her mother: What is the longest day of the year? Those when wait for dinner without lunch”.
No comments.
As usual, another racist even in Football. This time, AC Roma has been fined €15,000 for offensive chants by tis supporter against Dusan Vlahovic. The Roma fans were chanting: “Vlahovic, you are a gypsy.”
Roma has been fined €15,000 for offensive chants at Dusan Vlahovic in the 54th and 73rd minutes in yesterday’s #JuveRoma match. The Roma fans were chanting: “Vlahovic, you are a gypsy.” Some Roma fans also threw objects at Juventus fans. (@SerieA_EN) pic.twitter.com/6M5u3YQ0cH
— JuveFC (@juvefcdotcom) August 28, 2022
Roma have been participating in this pilgrimage in Brezje, Slovenia for a century. Usually set a week before Mary’s Assumption day, during the festivities, they help carry the image of Mary from the church to a nearby park and back to church, a trip symbolizing the search for an abode that Mary and Josef had to do.
After two years where the feast was cancelled because of Corona, it takes place again. But the local authorities do not want to provide a place where the Roma could stay during the pilgrimage, in fact, preventing them from attending. This is bad, but in view of the general view of Roma in Slovenia, not surprising.
The embassies of almost all EU countries in Budapest – with the exception of Cyprus, Croatia and Malta -, several European countries outside the EU, as well as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico signed a joint statement published on the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day.
The message obviously refers to the recent Orban speech and criticises it implicitly.
“On August 2, on the occasion of the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember with sadness the tragic genocide that caused the death of hundreds of thousands of European Roma. Unfortunately, the seeds of racist ideology still exist and thrive in 2022. However, these ideologies are not only incorrect, they are also dangerous: they must be eradicated so that a culture based on equality and respect for human dignity can take their place. Diversity is not just an attribute to be tolerated, but a cause to be celebrated, as it brings strength and benefit to all of us. We join the voices of all those who condemn xenophobia, discrimination and all forms of racism, and we stand together with the individuals and communities who have suffered the ideologies of hatred and division.”
It is not good, as one third of them have experienced discrimination, and children are not enrolled in school.
A shame.
Acts of racism and discrimination against Roma are largely unreported.
This is bad.
Well, looking for a place to stay in Budapest if you are Rom and even if you have a steady job is not easy, if not impossible.
Aleksandar Damjanovic, chairman of NGO Montenegrin Cultural Network, CKM, founded in 2009 to spread loyalty and respect for the country’s state symbols made a blunder: He wanted to include the Roma community in his “Montenegro without division” campaign, but he did not find an adequate costume. Yes really.
Roma responded saying if the smallest problem faced by Roma was traditional costumes, they’d be really happy there. In any case, the Council of Montenegro’s Roma signed a joint Memorandum on cooperation, as announced the president of the Roma Council, Mensur Šalaj.
The kind of articles on really doesn’t need. In the State of Thuringia, the refugees’ centres are full. But they also speak of “Roma clans”, “Roma extended families”, all the stereotypes.
Bad.
Not much this week in France. An article with all stereotypes on Roma on the Cote d’Azur, a camp closed near Paris, and of course the consequence thereof, a new camp being established.
In all those years, for 15 to 20 thousand Roma living in camps, they could have found a better solution …
Really? 38% of French people think that “Islam is a threat to the identity of France” (compared to 44.7% in 2019) or even 45% think that “the Roma live mainly from theft and trafficking” (48 .2% in 2019).
And 37% think that “Jews have a special relationship with money”, up from two years ago (34.1%).
Even if for Roma and Moslems the numbers are better than last year, this statistic is scary.
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