Konexe, o. s.

Now that evictees are housed, Czech local government attacks NGOs and the poor

25.7.2018 12:20 The last remaining evictees from two closed residential hotels have finally moved out of the gym at a school in the excluded locality of Předlice and into rental housing. After their previous contracts were not extended, 25 tenants evicted from the Modrá residential hotel in the Střekov quarter of Ústí nad Labem ended up living in the gym temporarily at the beginning of July.
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Czech Police respond to incident between NGO social workers and Romani parents about impending evictions

8.6.2018 13:06

The situation at one of the residential hotels in Ústí nad Labem slated for closure as of the end of this month escalated on 5 June to such an extent that police were called to the scene after a verbal conflict transpired between the tenants of the residential hotel on Klíšská Street and social workers from the People In Need organization who proposed to a mother with five children that she could increase her chances of finding new housing if she would just place two of her children with the Klokánek project, which offers temporary foster care. "Two social workers from People in Need came here, and one lady looking for housing was offered the alternative solution of placing two of her children with the Klokánek project and keeping the other three with her so she can find housing," Marek Kondáš, who is also a tenant at the residential hotel, described the beginning of the conflict to news server Romea.cz.

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History of EGAM and Konexe's efforts to see the pig farm removed from the Roma genocide site at Lety

19.12.2017 16:56 Several days ago the contract was signed to buy out the pig farm that has been running since 1973 at the Romani genocide site in Lety u Písku. According to the contract, the raising of pigs will close there by March 2018, after which time the farm should be demolished, the genocide site should be cleaned of pig waste, and a dignified memorial should then be built on the site.  full story

Czech-Roma group alleges more people may have died at Roma genocide site than previously known, will demonstrate for pig farm removal

21.7.2017 8:28 On Sunday, 30 July at 13:30 an assembly will be held on Hradčanské náměstí near Prague Castle called "Remove the pig farm! Remember the victims of the Samudaripen".
The main demand of those demonstrating is the removal of the pig farm from the site of the WWII-era genocide of the Roma at Lety u Písku.  full story

Czech Republic: Demonstration in Prague calls on EU to stop subsidizing pig farm on Romani Holocaust site

17.5.2016 10:15 Monday, 16 May was the International Day of Romani Resistance, a day to honor the memory of the Romani victims of the Holocaust and the heroic uprising of Romani people in the Auschwitz concentration camp. On that occasion the Konexe organization held a demonstration in front of the EU House, the headquarters of the representation of the European Commission and European Parliament in the Czech Republic.  full story

Czech Republic: "Romani Resistance Days" to involve symbolic blockade of Lety pig farm, protest in Prague

12.5.2016 14:14 The Konexe association is preparing a program to honor the memories of the victims of the Romani Holocaust and the heroic uprising of Romani people at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The events will take place from 13-16 May in the Czech Republic.  full story

Commentary: Will the pig farm on the Roma Holocaust site still be part of the Czech reality in 2020?

20.5.2015 8:23 What takes place around the pig farm in Lety by Písek continues to tell us important, interesting things about Czech society, about the level of our public discussions, about the nature and purpose of protest, about communications inside the Romani community, and about pro-Romani and Romani activists here. Much has already been written about the scandal of this farm, which is located on the site of a former concentration camp where hundreds of Romani people perished and from which others were sent to their deaths at Auschwitz, and the basic arguments about and problems with the farm are absolutely clear.  full story

Czech Republic: Even other Islamophobes reject the DSSS

Prague, 22.2.2015 22:26, (ROMEA) Even the current wave of anti-Islamic sentiment in the Czech Republic failed to attract a larger amount of people to an assembly convened by the Workers Social Justice Party (DSSS) against immigration and Islam yesterday. About 40 people turned out to listen to a speech by DSSS leader Tomáš Vandas on the Old Town Square in Prague.  full story

Czech Republic: Ultra-right demonstration against "Islamization" to be counter-protested

Prague, 20.2.2015 23:32, (ROMEA) On Saturday 21 February yet another demonstration against immigration and "Islamization", this time organized by ultra-right extremists from the Workers Social Justice Party (DSSS) will take place on the Old Town Square in Prague. A half an hour prior to the DSS event, a religious assembly "For peace and tolerance among people" has been announced at the same location, organized by the Christian initiative "To Live Together in Peace" and the Konexe association.  full story

Will Czech documentary about Romani activist unite, or divide?

Prague, 4.2.2015 19:59, (ROMEA) Ivo Bystřičan's documentary film "Opre Roma" sparked passionate discussion before it was even aired. There is no doubt that Romani activist Ivana Čonková, the film's central focus, is a prominent figure who has recently drawn a great deal of attention.  full story

Czech Republic: Lety pig farm remembered at entrance to Terezín

Terezín, 27.1.2015 19:22, (ROMEA) The Konexe association has once again called attention to the topic of the Romani Holocaust and the scandal of the pig farm at Lety by Písek within the framework of the commemoration in honor of Holocaust victims at Terezín. Miroslav Brož of the association explained his reasons for holding the event to news server Romea.cz last week as follows: "Not just the commemorative ceremony at Terezín, but the entire atmosphere around it does not assure us that the Romani people who were murdered will also be remembered in a dignified way. For example, Czech Television is preparing to broadcast a whole slate of films and other programs to mark the anniversary, including programs about the Czech resistance and about Jewish people, but not one program is about Romani people."  full story

Czech Holocaust commemoration will appeal against anti-Semitism and extremism - Romani victims forgotten?

Prague/Terezín, 25.1.2015 1:36, (ROMEA) This coming Monday, Prague Castle will be the venue for an international forum that aims to draw attention to rising anti-Semitism and extremism in the world and to seek solutions to the most burning problems linked to religious intolerance; it will be attended by 30 heads of national legislatures from around the world as well as 500 additional guests. The conference is part of a two-day commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp and the end of the Holocaust.  full story

Czech Republic: Director of Terezín memorial against NGO honoring Romani victims separately

Terezín, 21.1.2015 0:21, (ROMEA) The Konexe association is planning to hold an event to honor the Romani victims of the Holocaust at Terezín on the same day that the official commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz will take place. Konexe is concerned that Romani victims will either not be remembered at all or will not be sufficiently remembered by the official event.  full story

videoSlovakia: Activists demolish part of segregation wall, ignoring local Romani opinion

Košice, 16.9.2014 22:37, (ROMEA) Last week pro-Romani activists demolished part of a wall in the Slovak town of Košice that separates a Romani enclave from the rest of the neighborhood; by 12 September the wall had been repaired. Both the European Union and the Mayor of Košice say the wall has been illegally erected by the local municipality without building permits.  full story