October 25, 2009
The end of a squat (1)
The end of a squat (3)
The end of a squat (4)
The end of a squat (5)
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has been an outspoken critic of Antiziganism, both in reports and periodic Viewpoints. In August 2008, Hammarberg noting that "today's rhetoric against the Roma is very similar to the one used by Nazis and fascists before the mass killings started in the thirties and forties. Once more, it is argued that the Roma are a threat to safety and public health. No distinction is made between a few criminals and the overwhelming majority of the Roma population. This is shameful and dangerous."
According to the latest Human Rights First Hate Crime Survey, Romanies routinely suffer assaults in city streets and other public places as they travel to and from homes, workplaces, and markets. In a number of serious cases of violence against Romani people, attackers have also sought out whole families in their homes, or whole communities in settlements predominantly housing Romanis. These widespread patterns of violence are sometimes directed both at causing immediate harm to Romanis, without distinction between adults, the elderly, and small children and physically eradicating the presence of Romani people in towns and cities in several European countries.
While shooting these pictures, I met by chance a young couple with two kids. When they saw me they were scared.
"Hello" I said
"We didn't do this, we didn't do this" said the young man. His wife looked at me while she hold her little baby girl in her arms. Fear was in their eyes.
"I know you didn't do this" I answered trying to make them feel more comfortable.
"Do you know who did this?" the guy asked me as he seemed to try to understand why people destroyed all in the house.
"I don't know" I said sadly.
"Are you a policeman" asked the little boy clutching at the hand of his father.
"I'm not a policeman" I answered with a smile.
They quickly walked away.
How can people be scared to this point?
