Czech Republic: Memorial assembly and march this Thursday in Žatec over Romani man's death

In the Czech town of Žatec a memorial assembly and march will be held on Thursday, 27 October in connection with the death of a Romani man at a local pizzeria. Jan Čonka and Mikuláš Vymětal announced the gathering, called “Justice for the Romani Victims of Violence” (Spravedlnost pro romské oběti násilí), and have also informed news server Romea.cz of the bank account number to which people can send financial support for the family of the deceased young man.

“The assembly will begin on náměstí Svobody, where speeches will be given and we will all pray together. The march will set out at around 15:30 and proceed down Třída Obránců Míru and Masarykova Street, where we will close the gathering after making more speeches and remembering the deceased through a public memorial service,” Čonka told news server Romea.cz

The conveners of the memorial gathering also called on members of the Romani community to remain calm and not to lower themselves to making racist or violent declarations. “This is not a war, there is no ‘eye for an eye’, we live in the 21st century. Let the police, lawyers and courts do their work. The family of the deceased does not want any slandering of the majority society as a whole. Thursday’s gathering must be peaceful and reverent,” Čonka said.

According to information received by news server Romea.cz, other solidarity assemblies are planning to be held on various dates in Canada and Great Britain. Large communities of Romani people who have emigrated from the former Czechoslovakia and present-day Czech Republic live in both countries.