Inside the Struggle: The U.S. Civil Rights Movement & the European Roma Rights Crisis

Inside the Struggle: The U.S. Civil Rights Movement and the European Roma Rights Crisis

Overview Europe’s Roma communities face deepening challenges of discrimination, violence, and poverty. The U.S. minority rights movement, which has had some notable successes over the past 50 years, also faces continuing problems, including police violence and disproportionate incarceration rates. We believe that a sharing of these struggles would be worthwhile as everyone searches for effective remedies. What were the elements that made the African-American civil rights movement successful? What are the eff ective models in Europe for Roma integration and opportunity, including building intercontinental solidarity? While these communities and movements have very different histories and contexts, a sharing of experiences, tactics, and wisdom could lead to new thinking and effective action in both regions.

Conference Agenda

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7
Central European University Auditorium, 9 Nádor utca, 1051 Budapest

The U.S. Civil Rights Movement: Then and Now
Experienced activists and historians will share inside strategies and tactics of some of the U.S. civil rights movement’s history, including its success in electing an African–American president, and discuss some continuing challenges, such as the white supremacist murders in Charleston, South Carolina, and the epidemic of police killings of black people in Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore, Maryland, and other communities.

9:00 INTRODUCTION: John Shattuck l Rector and President, CEU

9:15 KEYNOTE: Taylor Branch l Historian
WITH RESPONSES FROM:
• Sherrilyn Ifi ll l NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Zeljko Jovanovic l Open Society Roma Initiatives Offi ce

10:45–11:15 Coffee Break

11:15 KEYNOTE: Sherrilyn Ifi ll l NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
WITH RESPONSES FROM:
• Patrick Gaspard l U.S. Ambassador to South Africa
• Angela Kocze l Wake Forest University
– What is different about today’s African–American civil rights movement, as it seeks to address the incarceration crisis, the Charleston church massacre, the killings of minorities by police, income inequality, and other issues?
– How is the Black Lives Matter initiative being organized, and how it is effective?
– What is the dynamic in Ferguson, Baltimore, and other African-American communities on the front lines? What is different than before, and what is better or worse?
– What is the role of social media like Facebook?
– What is the significance of the confederate flag being removed from some Southern
statehouses?
– What are some of the things that are being done to improve the dynamic?

12:45–13:45 Lunch
The European Roma Rights Crisis
Two panels of Roma rights activists and scholars will discuss the ongoing struggle for human and civil rights for Europe’s Roma minority.

13:45–15:45 Panel One: Social Inclusion Policy
MODERATOR: Violetta Zentai l CEU Center for Policy Studies
PANEL: • Nicoleta Bitu l Romano ButiQ
• Iulius Rostas l CEU Institute for Advanced Study
• Andrzej Mirga l former OSCE ODHIR contact for Roma and Sinti
issues, chair of the REF board
• Bela Lakatos l Mayor of Acs, Hungary
• Flora Laszlo l UCCU Foundation
RESPONDENT: Sherrilyn Ifill l NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

15:45–16:15 Coffee Break

16:15–18:15 Panel Two: The Roma Rights Movement
MODERATOR: Zeljko Jovanovic l Open Society Roma Initiatives Office
PANEL: • Mensur Haliti l leadership development at Open Society Roma Initiatives Office
• Angela Kocze l Sociologist and Activist, Wake Forest University
• Gabor Daroczi l Romaversitas
• Ethel Brooks l Rutgers University
• Djordje Jovanovic l ERRC
RESPONDENT: Taylor Branch l Historian

18:15 Reception

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Central European University Auditorium, 9 Nádor utca, 1051 Budapest

The Role of the Media

9:00–10:30 Panel Discussion
MODERATOR: • Ellen Hume l CEU
PANEL: • Callie Crossley l Public Radio Show Host, Producer, Eyes on the Prize
• Vera Messing l CEU Center for Policy Studies
• Katalin Barsony l Romedia Foundation

10:30–10:45 Break
Flash Presentations: Some Current Intervention Strategies

10:45–11:45 We experience a series of 4-minute micro-presentations on the auditorium stage, followed by 30 minutes at discussion tables for each project outside the auditorium.

11:45–13:00 Lunch and Discussion Table Follow Ups
Sandwiches will be offered during the discussion table sessions. The goal is to inspire CEU students with examples of interventions for Roma rights and inclusion and U.S. civil rights that are being tested or used in the field.

PRESENTERS:
• Romedia l Katalin Barsony
• Romaversitas l Gabor Daroczi
• ERRC l Djordje Jovanovic
• Roma Education Fund l Beata Olahova
• RAPS at CEU l Georgeta Munteanu
• UCCU Foundation l Andrea Ignacz
• Not In Our Town l Hungary, Slovakia, and United States l Ellen Hume and Chuck Hirt
• Phiren Amenca l Marietta Herfort
• Chances for Children Foundation l Adel Kegye
• The Acs Playground Project l Bela Lakatos

Final Wrap Up: Takeaways from the Conference

13:00–14:15 Discussion
MODERATORS: • Zeljko Jovanovic l Open Society Roma Initiatives Office
• Violetta Zentai l CEU Center for Policy Studies
People describe their takeaways from hearing each other’s stories, and their final advice to
the conferees. Participants from the audience have a chance to share their views.
PANEL: • Taylor Branch l Historian
• Patrick Gaspard l U.S. Ambassador to South Africa
• Angela Kocze l Sociologist and Activist, Wake Forest University
• Nicoleta Bitu l Romano ButiQ

See more at: http://www.ceu.edu/event/2015-12-07/inside-struggle-us-civil-rights-move...