Well-known personalities sign petition against racist political marketing

A number of well-known personalities and representatives of minorities have signed a petition calling on democratic-minded parties to publicly distance themselves from political marketing that stirs up hatred in society. The call came in response to a campaign by the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party which put up billboards of Romani boys smoking cigarettes which the signatories described as “openly racist” and “an unacceptable abuse of children in campaigning". The petition was signed by theatre director Břetislav Rychlík, the director of the Museum of Romani Culture, Jana Horváthová, musician Iva Bittová, auxiliary bishop of Prague and Charter 77 signatory Václav Malý, priest Tomáš Halík, former politician Petr Pithart and director of the Romea organization Zdeněk Ryšavý.