Czech Republic: Right-wing extremists to march in Ústí tomorrow

The Hate is No Solution initiative and the Konexe civic association have issued the following press release:

On Saturday, 6 October a hate march will take place in Ústí nad Labem targeting residential hotels occupied by Romani people in Purkyňově street (Střekov quarter). The convener of this march is a candidate for the Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS). Hate is No Solution and Konexe will be supporting the victims of this hate march in the residential hotels being targeted. There is a risk that the march will seriously damage relations between neighbors and increase tensions in the quarter.

“We plan to be together with the victims of the hate march directly in the residential hotels and to support them during the most difficult moments when the racists will be chanting anti-Romani slogans in front of their homes,” said Hate is No Solution spokesperson Miroslav Brož. “We are planning activities for children to entertain them in a safe place while the march is underway, and we want to express our solidarity and support to the adults so they see that not all gadje [non-Romani people] are like those marching.”

Saturday’s hate march has prompted a great deal of concern and emotion among Romani people in Ústí nad Labem. Marek Demeter, whose relatives live in Střekov, will be traveling there tomorrow with friends to support those targeted by the march. “Romani people must start sticking together, otherwise things will become even worse than they are now. Let’s support the people in the residential hotels – the next target could be the rest of us,” he said.