Czech Republic: Peaceful Czech-Roma assembly set for Saturday, 13 July at the Máj housing estate

This coming weekend is expected to be very busy again in České Budějovice. Two anti-Roma assemblies followed by marches will be heading to the Máj housing estate on Saturday 13 July.

Just as during the past two weekends, a peaceful Czech-Roma assembly will be held by the Konexe association at the housing estate. "We will open the assembly with a joint prayer for peace and reconciliation. Then there will be a discussion about the situation in the town," says evangelical clergyman Mikuláš Vymětal, who is one of the organizers. "Our assembly is intended for everyone who rejects hate and violence."

News server Romea.cz publishes the organization’s press release below in full translation:

Press release of the Konexe civic association 12 July 2013

On Saturday, 13 July, a public assembly organized by the Konexe civic association and the Hate is No Solution civic initiative will take place at the Máj housing estate in České Budějovice. The purpose of this assembly is to support the Czech-Romani community residing at the housing estate and improve interpersonal relationships there, as well to support those who are the victims of hate. Konexe has organized similar assemblies at Máj during the past two weekends while violent anti-Romani unrest took place just a few streets away.

"We will open the assembly with a joint prayer for peace and reconciliation. Then there will be a discussion about the situation in the town," says evangelical clergyman Mikuláš Vymětal, who is one of the organizers. "Our assembly is intended for everyone who rejects hate and violence."

Another aim of the gathering is to support the local Romani community in this time of crisis, a time when aggressive mobs keep trying to reach Romani homes. "We’re afraid, it’s like a war. The children are the most afraid, they don’t understand what is going on at all. Do they really want to slaughter us?“ Helena B., a Romani resident of the Máj housing estate, comments on the events of the past few weekends.

Konexe’s previous assemblies at the Máj housing estate have gone unreported by the mainstream media. Last Saturday (6 July) a discussion lasting several hours took place on V. Volf Street involving several hundred residents of the housing estate and contributed towards calming the situation there. Konexe and affiliated initiatives have convened similar assemblies to support relations between neighbors during anti-Roma marches at the Chanov housing estate, in the towns of Duchcov and Varnsdorf, and elsewhere in the country.