Czech TV journalist called a "gypsy bastard!" as demonstration against the public broadcaster assaults several reporters
During yesterday's demonstration against public broadcaster Czech Television in Prague, Czech Republic, reporter Richard Samko experienced racist insults while covering the march organized by Ladislav Vrábel, which was attended by several thousand people with the aim of "enabling appearances on Czech TV broadcasts". A video taken by Afrique Média includes audio of somebody in the crowd saying: "Hey, there's that bastard, dude, the gypsy one, dude."
“You’re here with us today, yeah?” a demonstrator calls to Samko as participants in the protest were lining up in Opletalova Street near the main railway station. “Thanks for calling me that,” Samko responds, to which a demonstrator then adds even more insults and threats.
“Do you have bodyguards?” the demonstrator rudely asks the reporter – who then asks why he is being addressed in the first place. “You’re not going to call me a gypsy again?” Samko asks.
“I’ve never said that in my life,” the man objects. “You’re afraid to repeat it now?” the Czech Television reporter asks.
The march then begins. “Where are you going, come with us, you shit!?” the man shouts at Samko, who has moved on with his reporting of the event.
Richard Samko: Once again, I am startled by racist insults
“I have worked for the news division of Czech Television for more than 20 years now. During that time I have attended hundreds of protests, including neo-Nazi events. Recently, however, I have been filming reportages on the demonstrations against the current Government, against Ukraine, or against Czech Television itself,” Samko told news server Romea.cz.
“Despite the fact that I am accustomed to being addressed like that during these demonstrations, it startled me once again. These are ordinary people who, at first glance, you don’t assume will start venting racist insults,” Samko continued, adding that some people assert to him that the word “gypsy” (cikán) is not racist.
“Here, though, it sounded like that person’s purpose was to insult and provoke me,” Samko explained. “Unfortunately, harsher words are also used – about parasites, gas chambers, and filth. I always do my best to speak with these people about why they are abusing me and saying such things to me,” he told Romea.cz, adding that there were many insults voiced during the march, above all about Czech Television.
In addition to Samko, other journalists faced physical attacks and vulgar words. Radek Bartoníček, a reporter for news server Aktuálně.cz, was assaulted.
DSSS and National Democracy flags during the march
The demonstrators walked across the highway and the Nusle Bridge, arriving at the Czech Television headquarters after approximately two hours, where the main demonstration took place. They carried Czech flags and signs reading “Czech Television belongs to everybody” or “Freedom ends where the Czech Television signal begins.”
During the march, protesters changed slogans reminiscent of the 1989 Velvet Revolution (“It’s here at last!”, “Resign!” and “Shame on the Government!”), the anniversary of which was yesterday, and whistled. Some carried flags of the Tricolor movement, which is not seated in Parliament.
Flags of extremist organizations such as the “Workers Social Justice Party” (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS) or National Democracy (Národní demokracie) could be seen in the march. Speakers at the demonstration criticized the content of Czech Television’s news reporting.
According to the demonstrators, the public broadcaster is not impartial, because during the COVID-19 pandemic it has placed too much emphasis on information about inoculation against the virus and because during Russia’s war on Ukraine it has not given enough room to Russian opinions. Protestors criticized the Government for allegedly pushing the Czech Republic into the war.
The biggest contemporary evil, according to the speakers, is the Czech Republic’s membership in both the European Union and NATO. The media have reported that Vrábel, the organizer of the demonstration and march, is facing collections proceedings; he has organized several anti-Government demonstrations in the last few months.
At the previous protest on 28 October (Czechoslovak Independence Day), police estimated people turned out in the lower tens of thousands. On the square where it was convened, petition stands were set up by the “Free People” (Svobodní) party and by aspiring presidential candidates Josef Skála (Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia – KSČM) and Alena Vitásková.
After the demonstration, scuffles broke out in front of the National Museum between those for and against these positions. Some demonstrators clashed with police as well.
Full statement by journalist Richard Samko
I have worked for the news division of Czech Television for more than 20 years now. During that time I have attended hundreds of protests, including neo-Nazi events. Recently, however, I have been filming reportages on the demonstrations against the current Government, against Ukraine, or against Czech Television itself.
This year, too, I was tasked with covering the protest against Czech Television organized by Ladislav Vrábel on 17 November.
It all began near the main railway station in Prague, around 14:00. When I arrived at the scene, a demonstrator shouted at me “Hey, there’s that gypsy bastard!”
Despite the fact that I am accustomed to being addressed like that during these demonstrations, it startled me once again. These are ordinary people who, at first glance, you don’t assume will start venting racist insults.
Yes, now some people will begin asserting the word “gypsy” (cikán) is not racist. Here, though, it sounded like that person’s purpose was to insult and provoke me. Unfortunately, harsher words are also used – about parasites, gas chambers, and filth.
I always do my best to speak with these people about why they are abusing me and saying such things to me. This case was no exception. I walked over to the man. First I thanked him for addressing me in such a nice way, and then I wanted to know why he was calling me a “gypsy bastard”?
He had an explanation. According to him, if “we” (by which he meant Czech Television) are (allegedly) calling him and those demonstrating with him “Russian cockroaches”, then he can say what he said to me.
I emphatically reject his allegations. Czech Television reporters have never spoken of the demonstrators in such terms, are not speaking of them in such terms, and will not speak of them in such terms.
The man at issue then turned on his smartphone and began filming me. I wanted him to repeat the way he had addressed me in the beginning, which is to say, as a “Gypsy bastard”. He began to claim he never said anything of the kind. Our debate ended because the crowd began marching.
Things continued in a similar spirit with the other demonstrators. However, the insults were mainly targeting Czech Television.
I also spoke with many people about their allegations that “Czech Television lies”. Unfortunately, when I asked them for concrete cases, they were unable to name them. It always ended with them saying that “we” (Czech Television) are “lying pigs”.
What is interesting is that many demonstrators are not interested in who is behind these demonstrations, who is financing them, or who is organizing them. Many of these people have problems and need to solve them by finding a culprit for them. They do not accept arguments and have none of their own to make for their allegations.
As for the man who called me a “gypsy bastard” and then denied doing so, such an attitude tells you all you need to know.
