The Covid-19 Crisis and Anti-Roma Hate Speech [editar]
Analysis through case studies of the origins, dissemination and impact upon people
Author Fundación Secretariado Gitano; preparation of the document: Demetrio Gómez (external expert), Javier Sáez and Cristina de la Serna (FSG)
Bibliographic references Fundación Secretariado Gitano; preparation of the document: Demetrio Gómez (external expert), Javier Sáez and Cristina de la Serna (FSG) (2021). The Covid-19 Crisis and Anti-Roma Hate Speech. Madrid . Fundación Secretariado Gitano
Publisher Fundación Secretariado Gitano
Year 2021
Place of publication Madrid
Collection Working materials
Themes Equal treatment
Territories National level
Tags Antigypsyism Covid-19
In the context of the social and healthcare crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the declaration of a State of Alarm in Spain, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) notes and deplores a large number of cases of stigmatisation perpetrated by the communications media and on occasion by political figures. These cases involve rumours and fake news stories which blame minority groups for the pandemic and its spread, or for violating the rules of quarantine, in alarmist language which links such minorities with “infection” and “danger”. These messages have generated various kinds of hate speech against such groups. The Roma community has been one of the groups most badly affected, to the point where the FSG decided to bring some of these cases to public prosecution.