Gypsies are currently probably the most persecuted ethnic minority in Europe. By recent estimates 2.5 million Gypsies were murdered in the Holocaust for no other reason than that they were Gypsies. That is an estimated 80% of their population. The bigotry and prejudice that fueled the Holocaust is still unfortunately only too alive and well and living in the hearts of some citizens of Dorset.
Gypsies were recognised in 1989 as an ethnic group under the Race Relations Act 1976. Since then at least in theory they have had the protection of a considerable volume of UK and EU legislation aimed at protecting people from prejudice, bigotry and discrimination. From what I witnessed last Wednesday outside the Bournemouth Town Hall someone is not paying attention to these legal rights.
Among the placards illustrated on the front page of the Bournemouth Echo (25 06 09) one read, “SAY NO TO TOWN CENTRE GYPSY SITE”. Substitute “Black”, “Jew” or “Asian” for Gypsy in this slogan and its bigotry is immediately recognisable. The same litmus test can be applied to a number of other placards on display. Yet the Town Hall and the police were apparently ready to have such racist material on display on Council property.
An anonymous contributor to the Echo blog describes Gypsies as, “… a people who do not know how to look after anything, or are not willing to pay for anything.” (“Your comments on line”, Daily Echo, 25 06 09).
A string of legislation starting with the Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 has criminalised the Gypsy way of life with the clear intention of destroying it (cultural genocide for Gypsies?). The situation today is that nomadic Gypsies in the UK are often forced to make home on temporary sites deemed illegal by prejudicial legislation. Gypsies on “illegal” sites are denied, as a matter of policy, fresh water, sewerage services, refuse collection and many of the other things that most of us take for granted. If we deny Gypsies the basic means of living a normal life how can any sane person criticise the victims for the consequences? What Gypsies are asking for is equality not special treatment.
Let us take refuse collection. At a number of sites in Devon Gypsies have tried to pay the local Council for refuse collection. They were refused, presumably because the authorities were concerned that this might go some way to establishing planning consent or setting a status quo. How would anyone fair deprived of refuse collection? Would any of the Bournemouth critics care to try?
There are many inconsistencies in the treatment of Gypsies. One of the most puzzling is this. The nomadic tradition has been central to Gypsy culture in the UK since at least the 16th Century. Both national and local government pay lip service to wanting an inclusive society. One in which there is respect for the principles of diversity, anti-discrimination, equality and equal opportunities. All this without loss of cultural identity. Might Gypsies be the test case by which the sincerity of the above fine ideals are judged?
