About 500 demonstrators linked to the far right Czech Workers Party clashed with police on 17 November, when they tried to attack a Roma community in the town of Litvinov, in the northern Czech Republic. After a rally in the town, demonstrators armed with stones, firecrackers and petrol bombs, chanted anti-Roma slogans and tried to march on the mainly Roma neighbourhood of the town. According to media reports, up to 12 people were arrested. At least 14 people were injured – seven police and seven demonstrators. According to reports, the Czech Workers Party had previously tried to organize a similar demonstration against the Romani community in Litvínov, on 18 October, but it was banned by the town’s mayor. Amnesty International called on the authorities of the Czech Republic to put an immediate end to the increasing verbal and physical attacks against the Roma community by far right groups. “Hate speech and racist attacks are unacceptable and illegal. Czech politicians and the government must strongly condemn such behaviour against any section of Czech society,” said David Diaz-Jogeix, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Programme Director at Amnesty International.
