PROTEST NOTE

To: President of the European Parliament

Presidents of political groups in the European Parliament

Anti Racism intergroup in the European Parliament

Members of European Parliament

CALL US BY OUR NAME: A call to respect Roma nation and our nations dignity

On 30th of March 2023, in the program of the European Parliament’s events there is an exhibition scheduled under the title “Time of the Gypsies”.

The undersigned Roma and pro Roma activists, as well as civil society organisations in Europe protest against the use of term “Gypsies” in the announcements of one of your forthcoming official events/exhibition.

We call upon your anti-racist consciousness and political stand that the word “Gypsies” is a derogatory term referring to Roma that encourages Antigypsyism, racism and xenophobia. It has been well documented in number of European Parliament’s resolutions, reports and by number of inter-governmental organizations and officials that Antigypsyism is a specific form of racism, an ideology founded on racial superiority, a form of dehumanisation and institutional racism nurtured by historical discrimination.

Referring to Roma (nation of 12 million Europeans) as “Gypsies” is a shameful act and therefore, we call on your services to either rename the announcement of the exhibition or cancel it.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPECT