<p>The city of Jerez commemorated International Roma Day today with a moving institutional event held at the Claustros de Santo Domingo, where it reaffirmed its commitment to the values of inclusion, respect, and recognition of the Roma community, which are fully aligned with the purpose of its candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2031.</p>
<p>Chaired by the Mayor, Mª José García Pelayo, along with representatives of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (Gypsy Secretariat Foundation), this program of events is part of the agenda of activities to commemorate six centuries of shared history and is part of the #Jerez2031 European Capital of Culture candidacy.</p>
<p>The day began with the placing of the Roma flag on the main balcony of City Hall, a symbol of visibility and collective pride. Later, in the Claustros Refectory, representatives of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano welcomed attendees and led a program marked by historical, artistic, and educational content.</p>
<p>One of the most significant moments was the reading of the April 8 Manifesto by artist Felipa Medrano, accompanied by a performance of the song “Gelem,” which has become the international anthem of the Romani people. Following this, students from the Formatéate program performed the play “Arrival of the Romani People to the Iberian Peninsula.”</p>
<p>Furthermore, the exhibition “600 Years of the Romani People. A Shared History” was inaugurated today in the Claustros de Santo Domingo. It consists of a total of 81 panels, inviting reflection on the history, challenges, and contributions of this community to the history of Spain and Europe.</p>
<p>In her speech, the Mayor of Jerez emphasized that the city “must continue to be a benchmark for the encounter between cultures. In this sense, she reiterated the enormous contribution of the Romani people to culture, as well as to many other cultural expressions that today form part of its living heritage.” Furthermore, she emphasized that “this shared wealth must be promoted and projected into the future, and that continuing to grow in this international meeting of cultures, respecting and supporting diversity, is an objective that Jerez must assume responsibly.”</p>
<p>As the Gypsy Secretariat points out, “this exhibition is the foundation’s tribute to the 600 years of history of the Gypsy people in Spain. Through these illustrations, we sought to capture some of the most significant moments in Gypsy history, as well as distinctive elements of their rich culture. From their departure from India approximately 1,000 years ago, through their arrival in the Iberian Peninsula through the Kingdom of Aragon on January 12, 1425, tragic episodes such as the Great Raid, to the current social progress.”</p>
<p>The exhibition will remain open to the public until April 26.</p>