Remembering the Roma and Sinti Holocaust – by Laura Marshall/Sakara

I wanted to take this opportunity on International Memorial Day to remember all the victims of the Holocaust by sharing my new song which is about the forgotten genocide of the Roma and Sinti. It is a story that is close to my heart.

Along with a video I created to raise awareness of this horrific part of our history. 
Although we now have a Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on the 2nd of August. I rarely ever hear or see them included or mentioned on International Memorial Day. The Roma and Sinti genocide is often left out in the media and rarely taught in schools. I want that to change and for the message to reach as many people as possible.

I also wanted to voice the importance beyond remembrance, and to make sure that new generations know this history and understand that in many parts of the world discrimination and persecution is still sadly very much alive.

Romany Gypsy, Roma and Travellers still face persecution today. Here in the UK, daily discrimination, blatant racism and hate are the norm. We suffer from the last of the accepted racism.
When I heard about the round up of the Romany Gypsy and Traveller children on trains back in December last year, I was absolutely astounded by what I witnessed. The heavy-handed treatment of children by Manchester police at the Christmas markets and shopping centres really upset me and my family. We were disgusted not only by the behaviour of the police but also saddened by the response of the public. The hateful words towards Romany Gypsy and Travellers in the comments of articles and videos on social media was so shocking and disturbing.

How is this acceptable? Why are such hateful comments not removed from these platforms? And what are we going to do about it? It is time to act and for our voices to be heard.

The videos of these children rounded up against their will, reminded me of the discrimination in Nazi Germany and the transporting of the Roma on trains to Auschwitz – Birkenau during the Holocaust. The hate during these times in history sadly hasn’t stopped and seems to have seeped down through the generations.

We must learn lessons from these dark times of the past and do our utmost to make sure that ALL people today are protected and have equal human rights.

It is so important more than ever, for us to stand together against hate and make a difference. 

My song Forgotten Ones is one way of me doing that.

By Laura Sakara Marshall AKA Sakara

(Photographs(c) Sakara)
 

About Sakara

Sakara is an English Romani singer/songwriter, storyteller, dancer, writer and activist. She has been in the music industry for nearly 30 years. Releasing several singles and albums. Many of her songs are about her Romani background and she often sings in the Romani Language. 
She is happy to announce a third album is in the making and coming soon. Once again, she has joined forces with her good friend Composer/Producer Stephen Thomas Clarke who also worked with Sakara on her new song and her previous two solo albums.
 

Bandcamp Music | Lady Sakara - https://ladysakara.bandcamp.com

FB page - https://www.facebook.com/Sakara-Official-Page-219810621385050/?ref=hl