Civil society members of the Czech Govt Council for Roma Minority Affairs and descendants of Holocaust survivors of Romani origin condemn attack on memorial to local Romani children murdered during the Holocaust
Volunteer civil society members of the Czech Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs have reacted with deep sorrow and indignation to the vandalism of the monument called "To the Children Who Never Knew the World" in Liberec, Czech Republic. They described the axe damage done to the bronze plaque with the names of Romani infants on it as "a perverse expression of hatred and deep-rooted racism that has no place in a democratic society."
An unknown perpetrator recently attacked a memorial commemorating local Romani children murdered during World War II. The person or persons used an axe to damage the bronze plaque that lists the names of 11 children who were born in a concentration camp in Liberec and later murdered in Auschwitz.
Historian Ivan Rous, who helped create the memorial, called the act “completely disgusting” and pointed out that the vandal was directly targeting the names of infants. The monument was unveiled a year ago thanks to years of cooperation between civil society, historians and Romani organizations.
The memorial is located on the site of a former concentration camp for Roma and consists of a granite block inset with a bronze plaque. According to the volunteer civil society members of the Czech Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs, the attack has not just damaged that particular physical object, but above all has attacked “the memory of the victims, the dignity of their descendants, and the common values of humanity, respect and coexistence.”
The volunteer civil society members of the Council condemned the act “in the strongest terms” and called on the police to swiftly investigate and punish the perpetrator. They also appealed to the media, political leaders, and the public to clearly, loudly reject the manifestations of antigypsyism and racial hatred which are still present in Czech society.
“The memory of the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti is an integral part of our shared history. It is not a past that we can ignore,” said the statement.
The voices of condemnation were also joined by descendants of Romani Holocaust survivors. Rudolf Murka, chair of the Association of Roma and Sinti of the Czech Republic, together with Matěj Nový and Robert Berousek, issued a joint statement calling the act a “heinous crime” and evidence of hatred.
“As descendants of the Romani people who experienced the hell of the Holocaust and whose whole families were murdered in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, we are concerned by the attack in Liberec, which we condemn,” they said. Their statement demands the thorough investigation of the case and that the perpetrator be punished.
“This is an expression of hatred and racism and as such should be condemned by the entire democratic society,” the descendants’ message states.
Statement by volunteer civil society members of the Czech Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs about the vandalism attack on the Holocaust memorial to local murdered Romani children in Liberec
It is with deep sorrow and indignation that we received the news of the vandalism attack on the memorial entitled “To the Children Who Never Knew the World” in Liberec. This act – an axe attack on a memorial plaque with the names of local Romani infants who were murdered during World War II – is not just a despicable act of vandalism, but above all a perverse manifestation of hatred and deep-rooted racism that has no place in a democratic society.
The memorial is the result of many years of work by historians, Romani organizations, survivors, and other citizens who are striving for the dignified commemoration of the tragedies that the Romani community has experienced in the past. This attack is not just an attack on a memorial of stone and bronze – it is an attack on the memory of the victims, on the dignity of their descendants, and on the common values of humanity, respect, and coexistence.
We condemn this act in the strongest terms and call on law enforcement agencies to track down the perpetrators as soon as possible and bring them to justice. We also appeal to the media, political leaders, and the public to clearly and loudly reject the manifestations of antigypsyism and racial hatred which we see continuing to emerge in our society.
The memory of the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti is an integral part of our shared history. It is not a past that we can ignore. Memorials like the one in Liberec do not just commemorate the victims, but also serve as a warning of what can happen if we, as a society, turn a blind eye to hatred.
We call on all citizens of this country to stand up for the principles of human dignity and solidarity. To remain silent at such times is to witness history repeating itself.
Declaration by descendants of Romani and Sinti survivors of the Holocaust
As descendants of the Romani people who experienced the hell of the Holocaust and whose whole families were murdered in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, we are concerned by the attack in Liberec, which we condemn. This is an expression of hatred and racism, and as such it should be condemned by democratic society as a whole. We demand that this heinous act be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrator punished.
Rudolf Murka, chair of the Association of Roma and Sinti in the Czech Republic
Matěj Nový
Robert Berousek
