#romani man

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Baxt: Photography Project by Andrew Miksys About Lithuanian Roma

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Hello followers and visitors of this blue blog,

I don't like to interrupt this haven with non-blue things, but this is important. I'll keep it relatively short.

I am a Romani man. The Romani, also called Roma, are an ethnic group often known by the slur 'gypsy'. This word is as offensive as the N word is in the US, don't use it.

There are currently hundreds of thousands of Romani in Ukraine, but no one knows how many because they are often denied birth certificates or government ID, leaving them unable to work regular jobs or even get phone plans or set up an electricity account. This was partially established under Communist rule so we could be made as slaves to work on farms. We have been resettled many times, sent to death camps, forced to integrate, banned from speaking our language and deported to Siberia. 

Many were living without water, heat or lights even before the invasion, separated from other citizens by a segregation wall. 

Some who had a form of ID had them burned during recent neo-nazi pogroms when all of their belongings were destroyed. As refugees, they are having difficulty crossing borders into other countries without ID and establishing any kind of temporary lives without documents.

While the invasion is very difficult for everyone involved, it is particularly bad for the minorities, as usual. Romani men are volunteering and being conscripted to fight with the Ukrainian Army but without any assurance that their families will be able to escape the country. 

Unfortunately, racism doesn't magically go away when a crisis happens and Romani are facing more difficulties than many as they move into surrounding countries. Some of the aid organizations in surrounding nations are refusing to assist or treat Romani refugees

Please consider donating to one of these two organizations for Romani relief. Or, if you cannot donate, please educate people and share the situation. Thank you so much.

Crowdfunder for Romani refugees arriving in Poland

Gofundme for Romani refugees, including providing paperwork

If anyone has any other links, please share them. If anyone wants more information about the Romani situation, let me know. Thank you.