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This vile article in the Times shows us why we must unite to stamp out anti-GRT racism

On 15 May, the Times published an openly racist article by former Tory MP Matthew Parris. In the shocking article, Parris calls for the systematic eradication of the Traveller way of life, and the removal of the community’s rights as an ethnic minority group. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community members, campaigners, and allies took to Twitter to call out the abhorrent article – and the mainstream media at large – for its consistent promotion and normalisation of anti-GRT racism.

The article

According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, GRT communities are some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities in the UK. In spite of this, the Times thought it appropriate to publish an article with the headline It’s time we stopped pandering to Travellers.

In the disgraceful piece, Parris sets out that “we should stop forcing local authorities to create Traveller sites” and “phase out the “ethnic minority” rights of people who are not a race but a doomed mindset”. In a eugenicist tone, he adds that authorities should “begin a gradual but relentless squeeze on anyone who tries without permission to park their home on public property or the property of others”.

This comes in the wake of government plans to push through its draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which proposes to criminalise GRT communities’ nomadic way of life.

Speaking out against the ‘shameful’ article, HOPE not hate tweeted:

Good Law Project legal director Gemma Abbott tweeted:

Assistant professor Donal Coffey added:

Not racist?

Hitting out against defensive claims made by commentators such as former MP Anna Soubry that anti-GRT racism is not racist, campaigners from The Traveller Movement tweeted:

Campaigners from Black and Asian Lawyers for Justice added:

Academic and writer Priyamvada Gopal shared:

Speaking out about the real and harmful consequences of anti-GRT racism, writer Mikey Walsh shared:

Mainstream media’s normalisation of anti-GRT racism

As The Canary‘s Fréa Lockley highlighted in July 2020, the Times has a track record of promoting anti-GRT racism in the UK. Racist misrepresentations in the media have real and lasting consequences. According to The Traveller Movement, abuse and harassment against GRT families – which was sparked by Channel 4‘s harmful programme called The Truth about Traveller Crime – continues unabated.

Speaking out about the harmful consequences of anti-GRT racism peddled by the mainstream media, campaigners from charity Friends, Families and Travellers tweeted:

The Canary’s editor-at-large Kerry-Anne Mendoza shared:

Garden Court Chambers barrister Marc Willers added:

Opposing the media’s anti-GRT agenda

Sending a message of solidarity, one Twitter user shared:

Calling for action and accountability, campaigners from GRT Socialists tweeted:

Calling on people to take action, Stop Funding Hate shared:

Suggesting that people complain about Parris’s racist article to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, campaigners from The Traveller Movement tweeted:

The Times‘ latest racist attack shows just how normalised anti-GRT racism is in the UK. It demonstrates why we must unite to combat racism in all its forms, and fight against government plans to stamp out GRT communities’ nomadic way of life.

Featured image via The Times (modified)

By Sophia Purdy-Moore

This post was originally published on The Canary.