Distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed will speak about the apartheid conditions faced by Roma (Gypsy) people of Europe at University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) in USA on April seven evening.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, will highlight sufferings European Roma  face, including social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet, etc.

Rajan Zed points out that it is simply immoral to watch this around 15-million population of Europe continually suffer and face human rights violations since their presence in Europe going as far back as ninth century CE, and do nothing.

Zed’s talk is part of second annual “Day of Remembrance” organized by UNR’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Other speakers include Dr. Emily Hobson of UNR’s “Gender, Race and Identity Program”; Dr. Fred Holman, UNR’s Vice Provost; Lydia Lebovic, Auschwitz survivor; April Voytko Kempler and Paul Kempler, relatives of a Holocaust survivor; Ric Thompson, son of World War II veteran; and Daniel R. Sanchez, interfaith youth leader.

“As we remember all whose lives were lost or forever altered by the Holocaust and by genocides around the world, we are challenged to think about what might motivate us to respond to warning signs of genocide today. History teaches us that genocide can be prevented if people care enough to act,” event announcement says.

This event, starting at 05-00 pm at UNR’s Knowledge Center Auditorium, is free and open to the public.