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Discrimination and the Roma Community 2014
41.
Lugo.
The media.
Direct discrimination.
The Lugo newspaper called Progress published a story about power
outages in a town where many Roma families live. The author highlighted illegal electricity connections and also
mentioned the ethnic group of the families allegedly stealing that electricity.
The ethnicity of the people involved in a news story is not relevant information and simply serves to perpetuate
stereotypes towards the Roma community as a whole.
42.
Lugo.
The media.
Direct discrimination.
The newspaper called La Voz de Lugo printed the following headline:
“Young Gypsies in the city of Lugo are lost and roaming aimlessly in streets and parks.” This headline is clearly
insinuating that the young Roma of Lugo do not want to work or study.
The Equality Department wrote a letter of complaint to the newspaper but received no response.
43.
La Coruña.
Internet.
Direct discrimination.
The FSG’s Lugo office sent us a link to an anti-Gypsyism blog
containing xenophobic and racist remarks:
“http://antigitanismo.blogspot.com.es/2011/02/empezando-por.html?zx=a0c7e2ad93df547f1000 reasons why we should hate Gypsies.
Following are 1000 reasons to hate gypsies, all justified from my own experiences. Everything I write is under
oath; I am not lying.”
The Equality Department unsuccessfully requested the closure of the blog.
44.
La Coruña.
The media.
Direct discrimination.
The regional newspaper called La Voz de Ferrol ran an article
under the following headline: “Five women accused of shoplifting in shops located in Ferrol and Narón enter a
plea bargain.”
The article goes on to mention that the accused reside in Roma settlements in the area. Ethnicity is personal data
protected by law. Again, mention is made of this ethnic group which is irrelevant information for the understan-
ding of the news story.
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