AUGUST 2

Candles have been burning around the world today in recognition of
International Day of Remembrance for Roma/Sinti Victims of the Devouring, and for present day victims of discrimination, racism, xenophobia and violence.

On August 2, 1944 all the Roma/Sinti prisoners at Auschwitz were murdered. On Aug 1 there were 3000 Gypsies in the camp; on Aug. 3 there were none. Those murdered that day were mostly the women and children who still survived. The women did not go quietly to their deaths and they fought to the very end for their children's lives and their own. Many nazis were injured in the pogram.
Still to this day, Roma/Sinti are excluded from Holocaust memorials.

The list of present day atrocities against Roma/Sinti and other immigrants in Europe is endless. From Northern Ireland to Ukraine there have been daily instances of oppression and racism.

Thank you all who participated in this year's remembrance.
May next year be more peaceful for the oppressed people of this world.

And I must repeat that we are very sad over the death of a long time ally Dina Babbitt, herself an inmate of Auschwitz. We mourn not only her death, but that the Holocaust Museum at Auschwitz refused to return her water colors to her.