Italy: One bus for Roma, one for everyone else - is apartheid on the way?

[uhnope]

Source: Romea

The British newspaper The Telegraph and the online news service The Local report that the mayor of the town of Borgaro is accused of wanting to introduce apartheid in Italy after proposing the introduction of one bus line only for Romani people and another for everyone else. "Two lines. One for us, one for them," Mayor Claudio Gambino (Democratic Party) suggested at a meeting on Thursday with residents of the town, garnering enormous applause.

According to the controversial proposal, two bus lines would be run on a route with many Romani passengers where pickpocketing is reported as occurring frequently. "I will meet with the Police Commissioner, it seems to be the only solution," the mayor said.

Residents of the 13 000-strong town located north of Turin have long complained of Romani people harassing and pickpocketing them on bus line 69, which has been nicknamed "the gypsy bus". The line runs on a bypass around Turin and stops near the airport at a place where approximately 1 500 Romani people live in a single location.

During the most recent incident on the bus a 13-year-old girl was violently robbed of her mobile phone; her father then turned to the mayor. Massimo Gramellini, a commentator with the Italian daily La Stampa, is defending the mayor's decision, saying it is not about apartheid, but about protecting passengers from illegal behavior. Others, however, are shaprly criticizing the mayor and charging him with racism and introducing apartheid. National and regional politicians from the center and the left of the political spectrum have clearly distanced themselves from the proposal.

Read more: http://www.romea.cz/en/news/italy-one-bus-for-roma-one-for-everyone-else-is-apartheid-on-the-way

[Journeyman]

1. Seems it would be cheaper and less divisive to put extra security on the bus line. . .

It might have the added benefit of actually capturing the thieves, which might then make the added security unnecessary.

[SeattleVet]

3. Signs warning against pickpockets can actually be counterproductive.

Years ago they used to have them placed around on the observation deck of the Empire State Building. As soon as someone saw the sign, their first reaction was to reach out and touch the pocket where their wallet was, which helped the pickpockets by showing them *exactly* where to make their attempt.

The signs were taken down after the unanticipated increase in pickpocket activity.

[davidpdx]

8. With technology so readily avaliable and cheap

they could put cameras on buses to dissuade anyone from stealing from each other. Most public transportation have them in the US these days.

[ReRe]

4. Apartheid on the way?

Hell, those people have been on the run for 2,000 years. I'd say almost as persecuted as the Jews up through time. They're still discriminating against them, to this very day. But, I don't think it's such a bad idea to give them their own bus, as long as they don't raise the fare. A separate bus doesn't necessarily spell Apartheid.

[Man from Pickens]

6. Wait, what?

Are you suggesting the only reason a Romani person would take a bus is to steal from people of other ethnicities?

[E-Z-B]

7. This is one of these stories where it's easy for people who Arran ocean away and don't understand to

pass judgement. And don't compare their persecution to that of the Jewish people. It's not the same situation.

[uppityperson]

9. Kicked out of wherever they are trying to live, allowed to own minimal, up to 1,500,000 killed in

the holocaust? And being enslaved during 13-19th century and forced assimilation didn't happen to the Jewish people so yeah, not the same situation at all.

[uhnope]

10. that's incredibly ignorant

you don't seem to know the history of the Roma in the Holocaust--90% murdered, along with the Jews (and others). No comparison? Please