Video

videoCzech Republic: Police detain three people, confiscate 22 weapons during neo-Nazi event in Vítkov

Vítkov, 3.8.2013 22:42, (ROMEA) Speaking to journalists after today's anti-Romani march was over, Tomáš Kužel, director of the Moravian-Silesian Regional Police, told journalists that during today's demonstration in Vítkov (Opava district) police officers detained three people and confiscated 22 weapons, but there were no clashes of a more serious nature. About 200 people attended the right-wing extremist assembly, but not all of them participated in the march. Around 200 police officers supervised public order during the event.  full story

videoCzech Republic: 200 people at neo-Nazi assembly in Vítkov, minimal police intervention needed

Vítkov, 3.8.2013 20:25, (ROMEA) The 6 000-strong town of Vítkov (Opava district) has experienced only two of the three assemblies that had been announced as taking place there today. Neo-Nazis came to the town and marched through its streets, including past the site of one of the worst racist attacks in the Czech Republic ever.  full story

videoCzech Republic: About 30 neo-Nazis gather in Prague, antifascists counter-protest

Prague, 27.7.2013 0:01, (ROMEA) Roughly 30 right-wing radicals gathered today after 5 PM at the Černý Most housing estate in Prague. The event was organized by a group called the "Czech Lions" (Čeští lvi), who are a sort of ultra-right People's Militia connected to the new right-wing extremist Democratic Workers' Party (Demokratická strana pracujících - DSP).  full story

videoRoma Inclusion: What We Can Learn from Croatia

Zagreb, 26.7.2013 13:43, (ROMEA) Call me a starry-eyed idealist, but I believe schools are the primary institution in society where we should learn to live together. As a parent, I’ve never seen the point of teaching kids how to divide numbers or how not to split infinitives if we can’t first teach them how to love and treasure each other’s differences. For far too many of Europe’s Roma children, however, schools are still places far more adept at dividing communities than uniting them.  full story

videoArtist exhibits designs for new Czech-Roma flag

Prague, 16.7.2013 23:52, (ROMEA) The latest exhibition at the Artwall Gallery in Prague presents seven designs for a new Czech-Roma flag created by Slovak artist Tomáš Rafa. The project, entitled "Selection Procedure for Czech-Roma Flag" ("Výběrové řízení na česko-romskou vlajku") critically responds to the current situation in which Romani people are not considered Czechs by the majority society and find themselves in forced isolation.  full story

videoVIDEO: Czech recording artist Bonus responds to anti-Roma marches

Prague, 12.7.2013 21:52, (ROMEA) At a time when the top politicians in the Czech Republic are maintaining a dogged silence about the current wave of anti-Romani marches, artists have begun to speak out. Acclaimed musician Martina Hůlu, who performs under the nickname Bonus, composed and recorded overnight a protest song responding to the hate marches by "decent" people against the Roma in České Budějovice.  full story

videoCzech Republic: 400 Czech and Romani neighbors hold calm discussions while police hold neo-Nazis back

České Budějovice, 6.7.2013 21:38, (ROMEA) Yet another anti-Roma demonstration was slated to take place Saturday, 6 July in České Budějovice, where neo-Nazis have been threatening Romani people with violence. Police officers were prepared to intervene.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Neo-Nazis attempt pogrom on Roma, commit arson, nine injured, 28 arrests

České Budějovice, 29.6.2013 20:19, (ROMEA) Roughly 200 people, most of them Romani, gathered after 13:00 CET today at the Máj housing estate in České Budějovice where the assembly and cultural program "Čikhatar Het/Z bahna ven II" ("Out of the Mud II") was held by the Konexe civic association together with the local Romani community. The gathering was in response to an anti-Romani demonstration that started at 16:00 CET on Přemysl Otakar II Square and was attended by about 500 people.  full story

videoRoma: Commission calls on Member States to step up efforts on integration

Brussels, 26.6.2013 22:25, (ROMEA) The European Commission has called on Member States to deliver on their commitments to ensure equality and to do more to improve the economic and social integration of Europe's 10 to 12 million Roma.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Injuries after DSSS provokes street warfare in Duchcov, police use tear gas and water cannon

Duchcov, 22.6.2013 19:34, (ROMEA) In the Czech town of Duchcov (Teplice district) the first clashes have taken place between riot police and promoters of the Workers Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti - DSSS). Bottles and rocks were thrown and police used firecrackers, tear gas and water cannon. Police have confirmed two officers injured, but others have sustained bloody cuts. A photographer was struck in the head with a rock and a woman also suffered injuries. The right-wing radical event completely lost any sort of organized progression.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Demonstration against intolerance in Teplice draws less than 100 people

Teplice, 14.6.2013 17:15, (ROMEA) Almost 100 people, most of them Romani, gathered on the main square in the North Bohemian town of Teplice today for a peaceful demonstration "Against Intolerance" to honor the memory of Ivan Jarka. The event is a direct response to Jarka's recent murder, which local Romani residents unequivocally describe as having been racially motivated. Police reportedly disagree with that assessment.  full story

videoCzech organizer of anti-Roma demonstrations doesn't recall expressing a desire for mass murder

Duchcov/Prague, 10.6.2013 22:50, (ROMEA) Jan Dufek, the man who was so looking forward to Czech citizens finally rising up to murder off Romani people, is now claiming that he doesn't stand by what he said. "I was upset and unfortunately I can't take it back now," Dufek has told news server iDNES.cz.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Conveners of demonstration in Duchcov push for mass murder of Romani people

Duchcov/Prague, 7.6.2013 17:45, (ROMEA) Jan Dufek and Jindřich Svoboda are the organizers of what so far has been just one anti-Roma demonstration in the Czech town of Duchcov, a protest that was followed by an attempted march on Romani people's residences, but the pair have announced other demonstrations for the future. Mayor Jitka Bártová recently did her best to calm the situation in the town after the demonstration by convening a public discussion.  full story

videoCzech cop knocked Romani child from pram but the mother is being charged

Rokycany, 4.6.2013 21:08, (ROMEA) Police spokesperson Hana Kroftová has informed news server Romea.cz that the municipal police officer in Rokycany who knocked over a pram with a 16-month old Romani infant in it during a careless and violent intervention against the child's mother will not be brought up on criminal charges. His actions have now been submitted to the Rokycany municipal authorities for misdemeanor review because detectives decided they did not rise to the level of a felony.  full story

videoKhamoro 2013, Thursday: Concert of traditional Roma music

Prague, 20.5.2013 10:09, (ROMEA) The festival “Khamoro”, in other words “ The Sun” will last until the 2nd of June. Visitors will be offered along a number of accompanying events, with one of the biggest enticement of the festival which are the Roma traditional music concerts. Very well known bands from several countries of the world will perform during the Khamoro festival. The Czech formation Kale, Serbian Orchestar Saša Krstic and the fantastic Zuralia Orchestor from Romania will be introduced to the audience on Thursday, the 30th of May from 7pm at the Roxy club. You can enjoy listening to their music right now.  full story

videoKhamoro 2013, Friday: Concert of traditional Roma music

Prague, 30.5.2013 11:10, (ROMEA) Each day of the World Roma Festival Khamoro offers rich program, from which concerts of traditional Roma music are the most popular. On Friday, 31st May, you could go to the Roxy Club to enjoy a Spanish flamenco star Macarena Ramirez, a popular Hungarian band Olah Gipsy Beats and Gypsy folk group Taborshow from Russia. An illustration of their music you could find here.  full story

videoThree Gypsy Jazz concerts will be performed at the 15th Khamoro Festival

Praha, 13.5.2013 11:14, (ROMEA) The 15th jubilee year of the World Roma Festival Khamoro will start in the end of May in Prague. The NGO Slovo 21 and Studio Production Saga have been organizing the festival since 1999. This year Khamoro is held under the patronage of Prime Minister Petr Necas and Mayor of the City of Prague Bohuslav Svoboda.  full story

videoSlovakia: Romani political party presents project to President Gašparovič

Bratislava, Slovakia, 7.5.2013 18:59, (ROMEA) Ivan Gašparovič, the president of the Slovak Republic, in response to a letter from the Romani Union Party of Slovakia (Strana romské unie Slovenska), has received a visit from party representatives to discuss Romani people and their life together with the non-Romani population in Slovakia. “Cooperation must consist of seeking compromises,” the president said of the visit.  full story

videoCzech Republic: “Slave of Race” initiative holds “happenings” to launch petition

Ostrava/Prague, 7.5.2013 0:28, (ROMEA) A newly-created initiative called “Slave of Race” (Otrokem rasy) launched its activity today with two happenings, one in front of the Czech Interior Ministry in Prague and another in front of the Ostrava town hall, where people sought signatures on a petition in support of those remaining in the Přednádraží ghetto. Because the situation in Ostrava has drastically deteriorated, the initiative is focusing its activities on that topic.  full story

videoPro boxer Tyson Fury is proud of his origins

New York City, USA, 29.4.2013 5:26, (ROMEA) Last weekend Tyson Fury achieved an enormous triumph when he became the first professional boxer ever to knock out American boxer Steve Cunningham. "I am proud of what I am, and that's a Traveller,” the heavyweight Fury told The Independent. Last weekend in the USA was his 21st victory in a professional ring.  full story