Roma Pride march on 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia will object to President's antigypsyism
Organizers of Roma Pride have informed news server Romea.cz that on Sunday, 28 October, a holiday marking the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the annual Roma Pride march will take place in Prague. The event will begin at 14:15 on Hradčanské náměstí near Prague Castle, where Romani people and their friends will object to the recent antigypsyist remarks made by Czech President Zeman.
The assembly will march through the city center to the Old Town Square. The event will be followed by a program at Žižkostel and will close with a performance by the Romani band Terne čhave.
The march is annually organized in many European countries under the rubric of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement (EGAM) and is being held in the Czech Republic for a sixth year in a row. Marchers will start in front of the gates to Prague Castle, where they intend to protest the recent allegations by Czech President Zeman that Romani people do not work.
“We want to clearly stand up to the outrageous antigypsyist lies of Miloš Zeman. We dislike how he disseminates and strengthens hatred against Romani people. I worked 31 years in the mines, that hard labor has affected my health permanently. Zeman’s anti-Romani remarks deeply insult us Roma,” former miner Jozef Miker, who is an organizer of the event, told news server Romea.cz.
At about 15:15 Roma Pride demonstrators will march to the city center, to the Old Town Square, where the march will end with more speeches. The march will be followed by a program at Žižkostel.
Visitors can look forward to traditional Romani food, a lecture about Romani music, the screening of documentary films with Romani subject matter, an exhibition of photographs, and a concert by Romani bands. The main musical star of the evening will be Terne čhave.
“Roma Pride marches have been held for about 10 years already under the rubric of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement (EGAM). Romani people demand their rights during these marches and protest discrimination, oppression and segregation. In the Czech Republic this is the sixth year this event will take place,” said Miroslav Brož of the Konexe organization, which is the Czech member of EGAM.
Roma Pride 2018
14:15 Hradčanské náměstí – speeches, music
15:15 Beginning of the march from Hradčanské náměstí to Staroměstské náměstí
17:00 Beginning of the program at Žižkostel – food, photography exhibition, children’s activities, dance ensemble performances, prayer
18:00 Lecture on Romani music – https://www.facebook.com/events/32399482840417
19:00 Beginning of the concert by Gypsy Brož, UGC, De La Negra – with a 21:00 start for Terne čhave
19:30 Beginning of the film screenings – projection of the films “FC Roma” and “Hole in the Head” (Díra v hlavě), followed by a debate with Romani footballers
For more information please see:
www.facebook.com/romaprideprague