Traveller Organisations Say the Time for Action on Racism is Now

Joint statement from Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Irish Traveller Movement, National Traveller Women’s Forum,  Minceirs Whiden,Exchange House Ireland, Involve, The Parish of the Travelling People,  Traveller Mediation Service, Traveller Counselling Service and National Traveller MABS:  

We as Traveller organisations are outraged by the death in police custody of George Floyd and by the ongoing responses of his country’s leadership.

We express our sympathy and solidarity to his family, community and to African Americans who are voicing their determination to demand that the racism embedded in colonialism and slavery is once and for all addressed in their country.

We stand in solidarity with all people of African Descent and the anger they feel at this time and with the efforts of Black Lives Matter and other groups,including those here in Ireland, to name and address this racism.

As Travellers, we have long since been exposed to anti-Traveller racism in Ireland and elsewhere. We call on the incoming government to act immediately to address the discriminations, including structural racism, experienced by Black communities here and by many others including Travellers and Roma.

The time for action is now.