This coming Tuesday May 31st at 12 Noon members and supporters of the National Traveller Mental Health Network intend to protest outside the Dáil in the fight for traveller mental health. One activist Rose Marie Maughan in advance of Tuesday's protest said that "Since the foundation of our State all the laws introduced has served as a cleansing of our Culture."
In recent statistics released by Traveller support groups across the country, in relation to attitudes within society, it showed that racism towards the travelling community is alive and well within Ireland stating that:
55% wouldn't have Travellers as Community Members.
35% Avoid Travellers
75% wouldn't have a Traveller as a co-worker.
78% wouldn't have a Traveller as a Neighbour.
83% wouldn't employ a Traveller.
91% wouldn't have a Traveller as a family member.
85% wouldn't have a Traveller as friend
A spokesperson for the Industrial Workers of the World said that "It is important that the workers movement echo the calls and concerns of the travelling community as they themselves are fighting back against years of attacks and discrimination by the State, the bosses and society at large.
"A rallying call of our union movement and that of successive labour movement since has been 'an injury to one, is an injury to all' and that too must equally apply the the traveller community. When we talk of workers rights this also has to include traveller rights and one can't be completed without the other, as no one must be left behind in the struggle for rights, justice and equality within this society. The trade union movement cannot leave behind any member of our class as the struggle intensifies both in the workplace or in the community.
"It is important that workers too prepare to rally in solidarity and support the traveller community on Tuesday May 31st outside the Dáil. Solidarity and support in the fight for traveller rights and against racism is an issue that must concern everyone."