We mark the European Holocaust Remembrance Day for the Roma

On August 2, we mark the 76th anniversary of the liquidation of the so-called “Gypsy Family Campus” in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Then more than 4,000 men, women and children were killed in a particularly brutal manner in the gas chambers. This tragedy turned the date of August 2 into a gathering for the horrors and mass extermination of European Roma during World War II. Today, August 2, has not yet been officially recognized in a number of countries as the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Roma Holocaust. This page, as well as many others concerning Roma history, is absent from history textbooks. Why is it important to know about Roma Holocaust? We asked our volunteers:

My name is Bogomila and I am 18 years old. Last summer I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Dikh i na Bistar. For me, it was a huge adventure, from which I managed to learn so many new things about Roma history, culture and traditions. I also met Roma from all over the world, with whom we exchanged information about the Roma community. In my opinion, it is important for everyone to know about the Roma Holocaust, because this is our history and so that such evil things can no longer be allowed to happen to people. Because everyone has rights. Each person is special and unique in their own way.

Remembering the Roma Holocaust means knowing, remembering and appreciating our history. History is the one that teaches us and gives us many lessons. Remembering the Roma Holocaust means not forgetting that every human life, no matter of what race or origin, is inviolable. That is why it is important to learn about the Roma Holocaust at school as well.

The memory of the millions of Roma and Jews from all over Europe who were killed in the Nazi death camps is a very shameful and memorable moment in human history. We need to know about it, because racism is still common today.

(the video is on BG)