Oy, Why Are You Gipsy?

Silvia Gheorghe

Nicolae Gheorghe's sister

Vasile Ionescu

He was one of Nicolae Gheorghe’s close friends but also “beloved enemy”. Vasile Ionescu is a writer and one of the most prominent figures of the Roma movement in this country. In 1990, he published the first Roma newspaper in Romania, Aven Amentza. During the '90s, he also activated in the Ministry of Culture, as an advisor on Roma issues. He authored several volumes of cultural history.

Iulius Rostaș

He is one of Nicolae Gheorghe disciples. Dr. Rostas is the Chair of Romani Studies/Assistant Professor at Central European University in Budapest. He was Visiting Lecturer at Corvinus University of Budapest. Dr Rostas is the editor of “Ten Years After: A History of Roma School Desegregation in Central and Eastern Europe” (CEU Press, 2012) and in 2011 he published “Social Inclusion or Exclusion: the Rights of Persons Living with HIV in Moldova” (Cartier Publishing, 2011). He published articles and book chapters on Roma participation, Romani identity, Roma school desegregation, Romani movement and civil society.

Ciprian Necula

He holds a PhD in social anthropology and started his career as a human rights activist under the supervision and mentorship of Nicolae Gheorghe, using innovative tools to address the stereotypes and prejudices against Roma. He has been a journalist, a leader of public campaigns, a promoter of social-economic projects, a political analyst, co-founder of a social enterprise, a consultant for international organizations, a debater in public media, the initiator of the Roma Culture Museum in Bucharest, and a member of the Scientific Council of the European Academic Network on Romani Studies. Currently, Ciprian Necula is the chairman of the Roma Education Fund foundation.

Adrian Năstase

He knew Nicolae Gheorghe since they were students. Adrian Năstase is the former Prime Minister of Romania from October 2000 to December 2004. He competed in the 2004 presidential election, and he was the President of the Chamber of Deputies from 21 December 2004 until 15 March 2006. He is a jurist, academic professor, and blogger.

Zeljko Jovanovic

He is the director of the Open Society Roma Initiatives Office. Is a board chair of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture and a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations and the ASPEN Institute.

Cristian Pârvulescu

He is the Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences within the National School of Political and Administrative Sciences in Bucharest. He is also a political analyst.

Oana Sandu

She wrote the article "Oy, Why are you a Gypsy?" about Nicolae Gheorghe. Oana Sandu has been a DoR reporter since 2012. She interviewed hundreds of people and wrote about the wall in Baia Mare, discrimination, and Roma identity, what it's like to be a parent of a disabled child in Romania and the birth system.