Cultural Appropriation and the Gypsy Industry

Cultural Appropriation and the Gypsy Industry

Co-Written by  Julia Lovell; Romani civil rights activist and co-founder of the Canadian Romani Alliance and Amanda Shorr; Romanichal, activist, researcher, and genetic genealogist

Time and time again, Romani people are the targets of cultural appropriation, with various levels of offenders to tackle. On Etsy, Ebay, and Pinterest combined, one can find over 498,000 objects tagged “Gypsy” which includes items such as dangly jewelry, hippy/Boho skirts, colorful bedsheets, and even pet supplies with tags such as “ Vintage gypsy”, “Bohemian gypsy ”, and “Gypsy Junk” while fashion designers label their companies and collections using comparable terms and are relentless in their use of racially stereotypical themes [...]

Why are so many Hungarians deported? A look at Canada’s ‘Unwelcome Index’

CBSA statistics about which countries’ citizens Canada deports, and why, belie international perceptions of our warm embrace of foreigners. Matthew McClearn looks behind the numbers

"They fled Hungary because they were “scared that their home was going to be burned down. Tired of their children getting beaten up at school and put into segregated classes. Tired of being subjected to verbal, psychological, physical violence when they left their homes." - Gina Csanyi-Robah, Canadian Romani Alliance [...]

Romani Women in Canada: Spectrum of the Blue Water

Romani Women in Canada: Spectrum of the Blue Water is grounded upon Romani women’s lived experience as writers, essayists, visual artists, and activists. Reflecting the panoply of women’s voices, the book links everyday experience and a social critique of the factors that enable and constrain women’s lives [...] 

LAWYER JOSEPH FARKAS FOUND GUILTY OF PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT

Refugee rights advocates call on Federal government to take measures for former refugee claimants who did not receive adequate legal counsel

Toronto, Ontario, September 20, 2016

The Law Society of Upper Canada has found lawyer Joseph Farkas guilty of professional misconduct. 

In the long-awaited decision, which was released late last week, a  Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) panel made findings of professional misconduct as alleged in the Notice of Application  [...]

The Devouring: It’s time to recognize Roma genocide

The Devouring: Can there be a stronger word in the English language to depict sheer horror and utter helplessness? This is the translation of the Roma word, Porajmos. The Romani people, more conventionally known as Gypsies, use this word to describe the genocide they endured during the Second World War; a genocide yet to be recognized officially by either Canada or the United Nations [...]