This vile article in the Times shows us why we must unite to stamp out anti-GRT racism

Featured image via The Times (modified)

On May 15, the Times published an openly racist article by former Tory MP Matthew Parris. In the shocking article, Parris calls for the systematic eradication of the Traveller way of life, and the removal of the community’s rights as an ethnic minority group. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community members, campaigners, and allies took to Twitter to call out the abhorrent article – and the mainstream media at large – for its consistent promotion and normalisation of anti-GRT racism.

The article
According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, GRT communities are some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities in the UK. In spite of this, the Times thought it appropriate to publish an article with the headline It’s time we stopped pandering to Travellers.

In the disgraceful piece, Parris sets out that “we should stop forcing local authorities to create Traveller sites” and “phase out the “ethnic minority” rights of people who are not a race but a doomed mindset”. In a eugenicist tone, he adds that authorities should “begin a gradual but relentless squeeze on anyone who tries without permission to park their home on public property or the property of others”.

This comes in the wake of government plans to push through its draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which proposes to criminalise GRT communities’ nomadic way of life.

Good Law Project legal director Gemma Abbott tweeted:

Not racist?
Hitting out against defensive claims made by commentators such as former MP Anna Soubry that anti-GRT racism is not racist, campaigners from The Traveller Movement tweeted:

Campaigners from Black and Asian Lawyers for Justice added:

Mainstream media’s normalisation of anti-GRT racism
As The Canary‘s Fréa Lockley highlighted in July 2020, the Times has a track record of promoting anti-GRT racism in the UK. Racist misrepresentations in the media have real and lasting consequences. According to The Traveller Movement, abuse and harassment against GRT families – which was sparked by Channel 4‘s harmful programme called The Truth about Traveller Crime – continues unabated.

The Times‘ latest racist attack shows just how normalised anti-GRT racism is in the UK. It demonstrates why we must unite to combat racism in all its forms, and fight against government plans to stamp out GRT communities’ nomadic way of life.

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