The wall was not designed to ban entry for anyone to anywhere, - its purpose was to cut down the relentless noise. Unfortunately, the wall in Maticni Street has now become a simplified, stereotyped symbol of racism in the Czech Republic. The wall is the result of the clumsy handling of the problem of anti-social behavour. There are successful Roma who have integrated into Czech society, even they do occasionally suffer from racism. There are some Roma, however, who have deliberately used an anti-social way of life as an instrument of protest against the majority Czech society.
International agencies seem to be on their side.
Recently I witnessed the change of atmosphere on a Prague tram when two young Roma got on. They wore their dirty, ethnic clothes as a sign of defiant protest. They arrogantly pushed their way through the white passengers on the tram. They spoke at the top of their voices, absolutely disregarding anyone else. Nobody else spoke.