Words by Smiley Team
As a single mum and florist, Sherrie Smith never imagined she would become a prominent activist tackling prejudice and hate crimes against her community.
She had known for a long time that Romany Gypsies like herself along with other Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people are some of the most stigmatised groups in Europe. Eventually, she just had to act.
In 2014, she was asked to speak about her floristry skills to the Victoria and Albert Museum for an exhibition about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. As she stepped down from the lectern afterwards and journalists and community approached her, she realised the important influence her voice could project.
Sherrie tells Smiley News, “In 2016, I wanted to write a speech about Traveller and Gypsy Hate crime. There was no data for hate crimes against Gypsy and Traveller people in the UK. So I set up a hate crime reporting website, a system to try to get our communities to report hate crime because often people don't even know they are experiencing hate crime.”
“I realised quickly that the system and odds were stacked against us. Reports and complaints weren’t followed up on. That hate won't decline till the acceptance of prejudice and racism does too,” she adds.
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Besides the struggle of her community, Sherrie has also overcome personal struggles. “I see the space I'm in now and I look back to reflect on how I suffered - because of my race, the prejudice, the narrative, the stereotypes and how this has affected me and my children's lives. I want to help make change.”
Through her work over the last few years, Sherrie has witnessed and collated the experiences of many GRT people who’ve faced abuse. While off the back of these findings, she campaigns to defend their rights.
On 16 May 2021, a Roma and Sinti resistance to Nazi Germany, Sherrie was learning more about new legislation that would increase policing powers over her friends, family and community members.
Sherrie saw community members commenting on how unfair it was, and reminiscent of 1930s laws in Europe, including Traveller journalist Jake Bowers. They agreed to set up Drive To Survive, a campaign group led by GRT people defending their communities against any impacts of discriminatory legislation.
Together, they’ve led campaigns and protests, addressed crowds and spread a better understanding of the difficulties faced by GRT communities across the UK.
A 2018 report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that GRT people are the most stigmatised group in Britain with 44% of people surveyed showing negative feelings towards them. This exceeded negative feelings towards all other minority groups, including immigrants, Muslims and trans people.
Support Drive To Survive’s campaigns and find upcoming events at drive2survive.org.uk.
