Hawke praises Madonna for speaking out

Actor Ethan Hawke has praised Madonna for her boldness in speaking out against discrimination against Gypsies, words that provoked boos from thousands of fans at her concert in Romania.

Hawke, visiting Romania to help promote his mother's charity supporting education for Gypsy children, placed the pop superstar alongside Bob Marley and John Lennon as part of a tradition of artists speaking out against racism.

"She transcended being a pop star," he told reporters. "She drew international attention and shone the spotlight on a level of racism and the need for greater education," Hawke said.

At an August concert in Bucharest on her "Sticky & Sweet" tour, Madonna called for an end to widespread discrimination against Eastern Europe's Gypsies, also known as Roma. Thousands of fans responded by booing her.

"I don't have an agenda, Madonna doesn't have an agenda. We aren't politicians," Hawke said.

Hawke, 38, was to speak later that day at the Ovidiu Rom charity Halloween ball, which was raising funds for the education of Romany children in Romania. A pair of Madonna's Christian Dior shoes with autographed skyscraper gold heels were raffled off at the ball, which was held in the giant palace of the late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Among the other prizes is a gold chain provided by actress Vanessa Redgrave, a keen supporter of the British Gypsy and Traveller community.

Hawke has been coming to Romania to support his mother's work since 2000, he said.

"I feel I can do something," he told reporters, "instead of being part of the problem."

Romania has the largest number of Romanies in Europe, numbering officially half a million, but whose population is believed to be as high as 2 million. The European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency has said Gypsies face "overt discrimination" in housing, health care and education.

This film by Romanian Romany Rights group Romani Criss, shows how one village of Romany people were recently attacked by their Hungarian (Magyar) neighbours.