Human rights activist Miroslav Brož in Lety u Písku: Racists are posing as fake protectors of the Roma to get your votes, don't fall for this and help them destroy democracy
"Various groups who not long ago were organizing marches against Romani people have recently started swarming around you, promising you the moon in exchange for your political support. Please, don’t fall for this. Think of your children."
Those sharp words of warning were pronounced on 11 May during the commemorative ceremony in Lety u Písku, Czech Republic by human rights activist Miroslav Brož, referring to the political forces which, in his view, are abusing the frustration of part of the Romani community to push for anti-democratic aims. Brož called on Romani people not to lose faith in democracy, which he believes is the only way to achieve a dignified life and equality.
Brož also recalled that despite persistent discrimination, positive shifts are underway, for instance, in the number of Romani people attending higher education today. News server Romea.cz is publishing his speech here in full translation.
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Speech by Miroslav Brož in Lety u Písku, Czech Republic, 11 May 2025
My dear Romani people,
In all the years I have been asked to speak here, I think this speech is the most important I will ever give.
We are at a breaking point – the world in which we have been living for the last few decades is falling apart before our eyes and disappearing. Big changes are genuinely on the horizon.
To tell you the truth, I am afraid, and I am afraid for you, because we very well know that if a serious crisis comes, the Roma will be first in line to serve as the scapegoats, just as has happened so many times in the past.
We all know the democratic regime which has been functioning in the Czech Republic since the Velvet Revolution in 1989 has not been working well for Romani people and is not working well for you. Romani men and women have never been equal citizens, each and every day they have had to face discrimination and segregation in all areas of life. A significant proportion of the Roma have no choice but to live in the cruel conditions of the Romani ghettos in the Czech Republic, thanks to their unresolved and unpunished discrimination on the housing market. These are ghettos where they pay high rents for housing of the worst quality, more than is charged for nice apartments in the center of town. Romani children end up in segregated schools and therefore have a very small chance of a better future. And so forth, and so on, there are so many examples of the injustice you have to face.
I am awfully sorry about this, and I deeply apologize to you on behalf of all the gadje [non-Roma]. Forgive us, please.
Despite these facts, I want to ask you all to come over to the side of democracy, to aid us with defending and improving it. It’s going awfully slowly, but it is going, we are slowly moving forward, this place, where the industrial pig farm has been removed and a dignified memorial installed, is proof of that. There are other areas where we are moving forward – for instance, the rising number of Romani university students, and the Romani people who, thanks to their determination and diligence, have managed to establish themselves and to excel in their fields, frequently in the face of racism.
Working together on improving and strengthening democracy so that it also works well for Romani people is our only chance for living in this country together, our only chance for Romani men and women to finally become equal citizens of our country.
I know that various groups and individuals who not long ago were organizing racist campaigns and marches against Romani people have recently started swarming around you, but now they are pretending to be your best friends, promising you the moon in exchange for your political support, advising you to vote for groups which are working to alter the political system and working against democracy in the Czech Republic.
Please, Romani people, don’t fall for this. Think of your children.
If democracy falls to its knees and those groups get into power, things will get much worse for the Roma in this country. We must not allow that to happen.
