Polish Far-Right Groups Stir Up Anti-Roma Hatred in the Shadow of Auschwitz
Less than 20 miles from Auschwitz, where once they shouted “Jews out”, football fans chant “Gypsies out”.
The small Roma community of Andrychow is living in fear since Polish far-right groups began a campaign of harassment against them.
The campaign began with a rally last month where the chant “Cyganies raus” (Gypsies or Roma out) was heard and has continued with social media and intimidation.
Roman Kwiatkowski, head of the Association of Roma in Poland, said Andrychow is the first case he has seen of an organised anti-Roma campaign in the country. “It is very dangerous,” he said. “It does not allow us to look to the future with confidence.”
Roma residents say they are living in fear.
Human rights campaigners believe the situation is being exacerbated by activists from outside the town who are being advised by the Jobbik party in Hungary on how to emulate their success.