Czech Romanies hold nationwide protest against extremism

A two-year girl from the house in Vitkov, North Moravia, is still struggling for life in a hospital.

In parallel, extremists' rallies were held in some towns. In Chomutov, North Bohemia, and Ostrava, North Moravia, the two groups almost clashed.

The majority population supported the Romanies' rallies in a number of places.

The rally on the 1. Maje square in Chomutov was disturbed by about 80 extremists from the group Autonomous Nationalists.

They shouted "Czech Land to Czechs" and threw a signal rocket in the crowd. Riot police had to be called in and the demonstration was ended for security reasons.

The chain demonstration in Prague led to accusations of the government. It was attended by about 300 Romanies.

They shouted that the government did not settle the Romany problem.

"People of dark skin could not use public toilets in the USA forty years ago. Now an African American is the president there," philospher Erazim Kohak, who spent much of his life in the USA, told the crowd.

The demonstration was also attended by Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (Greens).

In Brno, about 500 people, most Romanies, came to the namesti Svobody square. They chanted "Stop Nazism" and "We are at home here". Some shouted "Death to Skinheads."

A crowd of the fans of the soccer club 1. FC Brno marched through the square. They shouted vulgarly at Romanies and blacks, imitating monkeys. Some stragglers almost put up a fight with Romanies. The police prevented the clash.

The protesters signed a petition against extremism and collected money for the afflicted family.

Rightist extremism is mainly connected with the Workers' Party that is particularly active in North Bohemia that has a large Romany population. Some local residents resent what some call "unadaptable people."

Autor: ČTK
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