Hierarchical Violence against Gypsies and Travellers

“Civilization is based on a clearly define and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy. Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to those lower is nearly always invisible, that is, unnoticed. When it is noticed, it is fully rationalized. Violence done by those lower on the hierarchy to those higher is unthinkable, when it does occur is regarded with shock, horror, and the fetishization of the victims.”

 Derrick Jensen, Endgame, Volume 2: Resistance 

When a Gypsy or Traveler family pulls up on the roadside they are perceived to be violating land which is not theirs. They are met by the authorities and asked to move. The general public, so deeply conditioned into accepting this hierarchy, collude with the idea that the Gypsy or Traveler family are dodging taxes and have no right to be there. The law backs up this opinion by making it “illegal” to pull up on publicly or privately owned land (basically all of the land). Read more

Leeds GATE is one of the organisations that have recognised that Gypsies and Irish Travellers have much poorer health outcomes than most other people, including an average life expectancy of 50 years of age. We found out about the life expectancy during a baseline census that we carried out in 2005.  A team of Gypsy and Traveller community researchers used a simple form to gather some very basic data about the families in Leeds.  Although the data was simple, the report was fantastic because it has helped us encourage local healthcare providers to talk to us and since 2005 we have been working with the local NHS to support families and make improvements to services.

Now we need to update our understanding of what is happening in health for Gypsies and Travellers in Leeds.  We are undertaking a community health needs assessment and urgently require creative and enthusiastic research volunteers Read more

A vacancy has arisen for a Youth Inclusion Co-ordinator.  This is a challenging role which includes liaising with other agencies to seek service improvement, alongside frontline delivery of group projects and one to one support for young people. The Youth Inclusion Co-ordinator will identify, contact and engage isolated and excluded young Gypsy and Irish Traveller people and their families, supported by junior staff, partners and volunteers as available.  The post holder will deliver frontline services such as group projects and one to one support for young people, alongside liaising with other agencies to improve service delivery and outcomes. Read more

By Helen Jones

Why has Cllr JL Carter tabled a white paper to a meeting of the full Leeds City Council accusing the administration of ‘secrecy’ over plans to build a new site, or sites, in Leeds?

Here is how it’s being reported in the Yorkshire Post.

This is what I think. Mr Carter is a proud and charismatic man. He is used to having his way. He cannot accept that his policies have proved to be in error and that a steady groundswell of local opinion is coming to this conclusion. Mr Carter and too many of his fellow elected members of all political parties have bolstered their profile by repeated verbal ‘Gypsy bashing’ and fear mongering, which sadly does prove popular with a vocal slice of the local electorate. Mr Carter is just sticking to type and returning to what has worked well to sustain his political career in the past. There is no untoward ‘secrecy’ going on but perhaps there is an election on the way? Read more