Gypsies and Travellers lead a 10 thousand strong march against racism on March 19th 2022. Photo Credit: Jo Ellis Holland
Drive 2 Survive will be kicking off an election year in style by once again organising a Gypsy and Traveller block at the March 16th demo marking UN anti-racism day. Here’s how you can get involved.
Drive 2 Survive, the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller led campaign for cultural survival, will once again be taking to the streets of London, to ensure that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller voices are a strong part of the growing coalition against the rise of the far right. On March 16th as thousands gather to mark annual UN Day Against Racism, Drive 2 Survive will create a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller block made up of horses, wagons, musicians and individuals determined to unite people against the growing tide of far right racism and we need as many people as possible to join us.
“In an election year that looks like it will be dominated by political parties competing to see who can be most hateful against minorities, we need to make sure the Gypsies, Roma and Travellers stand up to be counted,” said Drive 2 Survive Co-Chair Sherrie Smith. “At the moment the agenda is about stopping desperate people in small boats, but in 2022 it was about outlawing the nomadic heritage of Gypsies and Travellers. On the streets of London and in communities across Britain we will be calling out this nasty blame game for what it is by uniting with all communities resisting racism. Our message to politicians is we can see what you are doing, we know what you have done, and we will be helping to ensure your demise at the ballot box.”
The March 16th demonstration will kick start a year of campaigning to inform Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across Britain about the track record each political party has had towards our communities. From the Conservative Party’s attempt to outlaw our culture to the local Labour Party leaflet campaigns against us, we will publish each political party’s track record and manifesto plans. Without fear or favour to any political party we will ensure every one of Britain’s 600,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller voters know what they are voting for.
“We wouldn’t dream of telling people who to vote for,” said Drive 2 Survive Co-Chair Jake Bowers. “But we will provide people with the track record and plans each political party has for us. As the 2022 Police Act has shown if you don’t do politics, politics will certainly do you!”
If you would like to be part of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller block on March 16th and help educate our communities about the choices they face at the ballot box, please contact Jake Bowers on 07966 786242 or Sherrie Smith on 07852 916912