The Jewish human rights charity René Cassin and the Board of Deputies of British Jews today held a roundtable between Jewish and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communal organisations. The roundtable, timed to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, was a landmark meeting between the communities.
Participants, including rabbis, activists and lay leaders, examined Jewish and GRT relations and explored the challenges that the different communities face and what misconceptions and prejudices each community is trying to counter.
Attendees included: Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies and Vice President Marie van der Zyl; Mia Hasenson-Gross, Director of René Cassin; representatives of UK Jewish denominations; representatives from the Traveller Movement; the London Gypsy Traveller Unit; the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Police Association; Friends, Family and Travellers; Roma Support Group; and The Aire Centre.
Jews, Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have a great deal in common. They share a history of persecution that includes the Holocaust (known in the Romani community as the Porajmos). But these shared concerns are also contemporary – all communities are affected by rising hate crime.
Marie van der Zyl , Vice President of the Board of Deputies, said:
“This is the first time the Jewish and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have had such a high level, cross-communal conversation. It demonstrates the Board of Deputies’ solidarity with other minorities and our firm commitment to promote good relations between communities. It is crucial that we share our experiences, as we did in this meeting. The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities – like the Jewish community – have gifts and talents which make Britain a vibrant society that we are proud to be part of. Today will serve as a catalyst for further encounters between our communities so that we can get to know each other better.”
Yvonne MacNamara, Chief Executive of the Traveller Movement said:
“Hate crimes against Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have been overlooked for too long. Events such as these are a great platform to raise the public’s awareness of these crimes, but also importantly to encourage Gypsies, Roma and Travellers to come forward and report hate crimes against them.”
Mia Hasenson-Gross, director of René Cassin, said:
“The Jewish and the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are united by tragic history but also by a very real present reality of rising hate crime directed towards ethnic minorities. René Cassin is concerned that the GRT community still faces endemic discrimination in the UK and across Europe today. It is the kind of discrimination that permeates the deepest levels of society, such that it is often not even recognised for what it is. This event is welcome and hopefully signals the start of closer cooperation and solidarity between our two communities.”
Chair of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Police Association Petr Torak, said:
“GRTPA is very keen on working with other community groups that share common challenges and history. This cooperation will assist us to deliver the best service to our communities and to educate the mainstream society at the same time.”