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Lower Nazeing Roma Memorial Park

The Traveller | 25.08.2004 20:15 | Anti-racism | Free Spaces | Repression | London

These photos were taken at the Memorial Ceremony at the Travellers site, at Paynes Lane, Lower Nazeing, Epping Forest. The ceremony was held to dedicate a field owned by Harry and Linda Smith, as a Memorial Park, to Roma people, who were killed in the holocaust. and who have died from persecution up the present day. They also sought permission from the parents of Johnny Delaney, who was murdered in a racist attack, in Cheshire last year, to name the field after him.

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The Traveller

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

What is Romany ?

26.08.2004 09:46

There is a world of difference between true Romany and many of the 'Travellers' who claim persecution because of a very tenuious link to true Romany. The Romany community suffered badly at the hands of the Nazis (and Communists) because of their ethnic grouping. Many Travellers do not share this ethnic grouping but claim it for themselves in an attempt to divert attention from their own behaviour.

True Romany have lived in peace in the UK for many years. We do not feel under threat because we respect the land and those who own it, indeed it is the land that has given us our regular income through work for farmers and land owners who allow us to park our vardos for limited periods in return for work.

Romany folk are not 'Travellers' and we have no association with those who claim our heritage to excuse their behaviour.

Ian

Further info

26.08.2004 12:29

There's a good point being made here by Ian. I was bought up in a rural area where the Summer visit by the Romany was looked forward to by farmers and the local publicans !

Romany Gypsies helped with the harvest, bought and sold horses and were well known for their fencing skills. My brother still lives in the village and the Romany no longer come as many of the farms are gone (replaced by yuppie houses) but now they have travellers and with them has come vandalism, theft, drunken fighting and rubbish left behind. When the Romany Council was approached to mediate the village council were told these people were nothing to do with them and they hated the damage they had done to the reputation of Romany Gypsy people everywhere. In Ireland many travellers have been attacked by Romany because of the problems they have caused.

RpT