Convicted con artist Lukáš Kohout did his best to spark anti-Romani sentiment in Šluknov today after similar efforts in the towns of Rumburk and Varnsdorf. He did not succeed. Approximately 100 people turned out on the town square this afternoon, 60 of them Romani residents.

„This is a complete debacle for Kohout. People whistled him down here,“ a correspondent for news server Romea.cz reported directly from the scene. When Kohout tried to make a speech, Romani bystanders began loudly whistling, drowning out his usual rhetoric. „Get out of here, you´re a criminal yourself! How can you demonstrate against crime?“ one Romani man called out to him.

The march that was originally planned did not take place due to pure lack of interest and the entire event was over almost as soon as it began. Police were on hand for security reasons during Kohout´s provocation, but there were no brawls or riots.

There was no anti-Roma demonstration in Varnsdorf this weekend. The streets of the town, including Edvard Beneš Square, were reserved by the organizers of a musical and theatrical Festival for Joy (Festival pro radost). Our correspondent says both ethnic Czechs and Romani people mingled on the square there.

Quelle: Romea.cz
Stand: 16.10.2011