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Roma Day march against racism

Voluntary Slave | 10.04.2005 13:57 | Anti-racism | Social Struggles | Cambridge | London

Around 300 people, predominantly Roma and Sinti people from across Europe, marched through London to show their opposition anti-traveller racism.

Coming out of the Church
Coming out of the Church

Armbands showing the Roma flag
Armbands showing the Roma flag

The march about to start
The march about to start

Marchers in black commemorate the porrajmos
Marchers in black commemorate the porrajmos

Holocaust symbolism with contemporary echoes
Holocaust symbolism with contemporary echoes

Shared history, shared solidarity
Shared history, shared solidarity

Samba and socialists, together at last
Samba and socialists, together at last

Musicians play to the crowd
Musicians play to the crowd

More of the musicians
More of the musicians

A guitarist
A guitarist

The Roma flag carried as a banner
The Roma flag carried as a banner

Roma people unite around their flag
Roma people unite around their flag

Stop ethnic cleansing!
Stop ethnic cleansing!


The march followed a service remembering the victims of the porrajmos (the holocaust), and of more recent ethnic cleansings and pogroms across Europe. We marched to a public meeting, where Travellers discussed how to respond to evictions (which are often distressing and violend) and the increase of anti-Traveller racism in the media. This included the announcement of the formation of a political party for Gypsies and Travellers, which will provide support for Travellers who intend to stand in elections. The first Traveller candidate announced her plans to stand against, and beat, Michael Howard in the forthcoming general election.

Voluntary Slave