The Graffiti Kids Young Travellers Get Creative
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THE MAGAZINE FOR GYPSIES, ROMA & TRAVELLERS AUTUMN 2019 | ISSUE 66 | FREE | WWW.TRAVELLERSTIMES.ORG.UK THE GRAFFITI KIDS YOUNG TRAVELLERS GET CREATIVE INSIDE: NEWS, TRAVELLER PRIDE, TRAVELLER MOVEMENT, PETE’S TRUST, LEE GAP FAIR, FILM, SOLAR POWER! THE STAR IN HODDESDON WAS ONE OF THE PUBS THAT CLOSED EDITORIAL NEWS © MIKE DOHERTY STOP PRESS: POLITICIANS “WE’RE CALLING PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR ON MPS TO GRT COMMUNITIES STAND UP A ‘pledge card’ has been launched which AGAINST THE allows MPs to declare their support for APPALLING Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities RACISM MANY in the United Kingdom. MEMBERS OF GYPSY, Speaking about the pledge card, Sarah ROMA AND Mann, Director of Friends, Families and TRAVELLER Travellers, said she hoped more MPs LONDON GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS AND THEIR LEGAL STAFF FROM FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND TRAVELLERS HOLD UP THE PLEDGE CARD © FFT TEAM OUTSIDE THE ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE IN LONDON COMMUNITIES would take the pledge: SHOPS AND ON THE DAY OF THEIR VICTORY © MIKE DOHERTY EXPERIENCE Despite the success of Travellers’ Times over the last 20 years, it’s “We’re calling on MPs to stand up ON A DAILY PUBS CLOSE important that we keep looking forward. The world is changing against the appalling racism many BASIS AND TO ever more quickly and it’s vital that TT moves with the times, and members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller ANTI-TRAVELLER FOR TRAVELLER TAKE SERIOUS that we continue to listen closely to the views of our readers be communities experience on a daily basis ACTION ON INJUNCTIONS GIRL’S FUNERAL they online or in print. In August TT’s Damian Le Bas and Lisa and to take serious action on the long- THE LONG- EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN BRUSSELS © DIMITRIS VETSIKAS Smith, together with Rural Media’s Development Manager, Rich standing shortage of places for Gypsy ravellers have reacted with anger STANDING RULED EUROPEAN Matthews travelled around England meeting with our readers and Traveller communities to live.” after shops and pubs closed across SHORTAGE OF and some Gypsy and Traveller organisations and their members. UNLAWFUL IN two counties on the day of a PLACES FOR Pledge cards have already been signed T COMMISSION Views were expressed honestly and passionately, giving the TT young girl’s funeral. GYPSY AND by Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer team a vast array of ideas and suggestions for where TT should HIGH COURT SLAMS UK TRAVELLER John McDonnell, Kate Green MP, Deidre Sixteen-year-old Mary Beary’s funeral go over the next five years or so. n application by the London COMMUNITIES Brock MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, Alex took place in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. GOVERNMENT Borough of Bromley for an Unsurprisingly most young people wanted to see more short TO LIVE.” Sobel MP and Catherine West MP. Hundreds of family and friends came to injunction prohibiting camping national Gypsy-led organisation videos, including films produced by themselves, both drama and A pay their respects. Organisations backing the pledge cards by “persons unknown” on their land has urged the UK Government to factual, and shared on Facebook and newer social media apps include Friends, Families and Travellers, has been refused by the High Court A Traveller man who was at the take note of a recent European such as TikTok. There were lots of suggestions for improving the A the National Federation of Gypsy and after a successful legal challenge by a funeral called the decisions to close Commission report on Gypsy, Roma and TT magazine like bringing back adverts, starting a comic strip, Traveller Liaison Groups, the Gypsy Gypsy and Traveller charity. “racist”, adding, “how is this right in Traveller (GRT) inequalities in the UK. changing the design, and distributing it more widely at fairs, Council, London Gypsies and Travellers, this day and age?” doctors’ surgeries and schools. A big thank you to everyone who Debby Kennett, Chief Executive The EC report assessed progress in key the Traveller Movement, GATE Herts, took part in the consultation events in August. We’ll be holding of London Gypsies and Travellers (LGT), Two of the pubs that shut were owned UK Government policy areas and found Roma Support Group, Derbyshire Gypsy more events around the UK over the coming months, as well as said she was absolutely delighted with by JD Wetherspoons. that the situation had “worsened”. Liason Group and Leeds GATE. analysing the results from TT’s Big Survey. In the Spring issue the outcome. “The Judge recognised “The decision was made by the Siobhan Spencer, Trustee and of TT we will publish detailed plans for how UK’s Gypsy and To read more about pledge cards go to: that Gypsies and Travellers have been company and was subsequently Coordinator of the National Federation Traveller communities can ensure the success of Travellers’ Times www.gypsy-traveller.org/pledge-card- present in this country for hundreds of endorsed by the police,” said a of Gypsy Liaison Groups, said that the for the next 20 years! asking-your-mp-to-sign-up/ years and that their traditional way of Wetherspoon spokesperson. report showed that the UK Government life is protected under human rights and Nic Millington, Rural Media CEO TT News needed to do more. equalities law.” “We completely refute any allegations of racism.” “While we welcome the recent The ruling could have major implications announcement of a national strategy because 34 councils – including 14 Yvonne MacNamara CEO of the Traveller to tackle Gypsy, Roma and Traveller COVER PHOTO: © DAN HAWORTH-SALTER in London – have taken out similar Movement said that it was “unfortunately inequalities in the UK this report shows injunctions and these are now in doubt. not uncommon” for pubs and shops to the huge amount of work that needs discriminate against Travellers. LGT were represented by Marc Willers to be done, but importantly it also THE TRAVELLERS’ TIMES IS PUBLISHED BY RURAL MEDIA. EDITOR: MIKE DOHERTY |EDITOR AT LARGE: DAMIAN LE BAS |PROJECT MANAGER: Julie Colman |YOUTH PROGRAMME LEADER: Lisa Smith QC and Tessa Buchanan, barristers at “Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers provides practical recommendations CONTENT PRODUCER: Charles Newland |THE TRAVELLERS’ TIMES IS THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR GYPSIES, ROMA AND TRAVELLERS, AND PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS WHO WORK WITH THEM. WE Garden Court Chambers, and by Chris continue to suffer extreme levels of regarding the actions that need to be ARE GUIDED BY OUR EDITORIAL GROUP AND STRIVE FOR ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS. |CONTACT US AT: THE TRAVELLERS’ TIMES, PACKERS HOUSE, 25 WEST STREET, HEREFORD, HR4 0BX | 01432 344039 | [email protected] | WWW.TRAVELLERSTIMES.ORG.UK Johnson, solicitor at The Community prejudice and discrimination in their taken if these inequalities are to be Travellers Times is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice. If you want to make a complaint, please contact [email protected]. Law Partnership. everyday lives,” she said. addressed,” said Siobhan Spencer. If you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk By Mike Doherty/TT News By Mike Doherty/TT News By Mike Doherty/TT News 2 |travellerstimes.org.uk TT ONLINE – YOUR VOICE ON THE INTERNET | 3 THE SUN SHINES DOWN ON LEE NEWS GAP FAIR akefield-based freelance photographer Lee Ward took Whis camera along to Lee Gap Fair in August and took some excel- lent photographs of what looked like a lovely event on a beautiful sunny day. If you know anyone in the photographs – or it’s one of you – please let us and Lee know! NIA BISTARDE – THE UNFORGOTTEN © ALUNICA LEPADATU TONY FRANCIS SHEARER CATHOLIC TRAVELLERS IN ST PETER’S CHURCH © SHAUN SOTO NAI BISTARDE PRISONERS PAY – THE TRIBUTE TO UNFORGOTTEN TONY FRANCIS CATHOLIC n the 2nd of August in Parlia- TRAVELLERS ment Square, Westminster, SHEARER ORoma from all around the UK risoners at Ford Prison, West Sussex, CELEBRATE gathered to protest against racial dis- have paid tribute to former inmate crimination, commemorating the victims Pand friend Tony Francis Shearer, ALL PHOTOGRAPHS FEAST OF THE of Romano Samudaripen – the Roma who died on 18th July earlier this year © LEE WARD AT ASSUMPTION Genocide during World War Two. aged 32. LAW PHOTOGRAPHY undreds of Catholic Travellers The London rally was supported by In a moving message that was came together to celebrate a the European GRT society. Leaders published on The Travellers’ Times Hspecial Mass for the Feast of the and activists from Ireland, Sweden, Online, the prisoners said: Assumption at St Peter’s Church in France and Italy flew all the way to the “Tony passed away on the 18th July and Hatfield, Hertfordshire. UK capital for only one day, to stand leaves behind his beautiful daughter, together for Roma rights and to pay The Mass, which took place in August, Dolly Eliza Shearer, his partner Mimi, his tribute to the victims of Holocaust. also celebrated the first anniversary of mother and father, five siblings, seven the Mission of Father Eltin Daly, a Priest On this day Roma, Gypsies and nephews and three nieces. who devoted his life and work to the Travellers stood side by side in London He left prison on the 15th of July 2019; Traveller community. to campaign against prejudices and ready to live a normal life with his discrimination. Talking to the Travellers’ Times, Herts daughter and family. He had changed based Irish Traveller Edward Doherty Julia O’Reilly, Irish Traveller, said that she his ways and was never coming back to said that there was also a regular Mass believed it was really important, right prison, but sadly Tony was taken from us.