A proposal to set up a specific
bus for Roma people to separate them from the general transit
population in a town in northern Italy is "provocative" and
doesn't solve the problem of safety on public transport, the
archbishop of Turin said Tuesday.
Monsignor Cesare Nosiglia was responding to suggestions
made by officials last week in Borgaro, just outside Turin, that
Roma people, known also as Gypsies, should be segregated on
transit following reports of attacks on other passengers.
The proposal came from Mayor Claudio Gambino, of the
centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the city councillor for
transportation Luigi Spinelli of the left wing SEL.
Citizens complained about a specific bus that passes by a
massive illegal camp where Roma live.
"The way forward to address the problem is to start with
the people involved," said Nosiglia.
Roma people need to teach their children about what is and
isn't legal, while non-Romas must be more willing to accept
people of different backgrounds, said Nosiglia.
"We need more willingness to accept others, because when
people see themselves as rejected or marginalized, that can
manifest itself in wrong attitudes," he added.
In June, Pope Francis spoke out against the "scorn" he has
witnessed towards the Roma people, and urged local and national
institutions to help integrate them into society, while
acknowledging that Roma too must play their part.
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