Mass anti-Roma riots in Litvínov – Janov

Source: zpravy.aktualne.cz

Workers´ Party with neo-Nazis against Roma 

The Workers’ Party was a non-parliamentary party that established close contacts with the organized neo-Nazi spectrum, especially with the organizations National Resistance and Autonomous Nationalists. It also established its own militia – the Workers’ Party Protection Corps. On October 4, they set out on patrol in Litvínov-Janov, a housing estate with several newly arrived Roma. Local Roma were waiting for them there, and a verbal clash occurred, which was suppressed by the police. A demonstration was subsequently called for October 18, after which clashes with the police occurred. The most significant clashes took place on November 17, when hundreds of militants tried to attack the Roma after the demonstration. The police protected them, but the Roma children in particular were terrified. Human rights organizations criticized the public attorney for acquitting the violent participants. The neo-Nazi organizations presented the actions as their victory.  The events in Litvínov-Janov were among the reasons the Workers’ Party was judicially dissolved in 2010. They also marked the beginning of a wave of large anti-Roma protests in the Czech Republic that lasted until 2013.