Scotland: April 8, 2014. (PCP) 'Glasgow welcomes Roma' was the message being shouted across Govanhill this weekend (6 April), as members of the public and human rights organisations took to the streets to show their support for the city's Roma population. Global Minorities Alliance, which advocates for the rights of persecuted minority communities the world over, stood in solidarity with the Roma community of Glasgow to mark International Roma Day (8 April) with a day of celebration in Glagow's southside. The event, organised by Friends of Romano Lav, was the first time International Roma Day has been marked in the city. The celebrations began in the morning in Govanhill Park, where people gathered for a peaceful march through Govanhill, home to most of Glasgow's Roma population. A crowd of around 300 marched through the streets waving banners and Romani flags, playing traditional music and handing out flowers, spreading the message that Roma communities are present and welcome in Glasgow. Later in the day there was a community celebration held in a nearby hall. Global Minorities Alliance marched alongside other supporters to show solidarity with a community which faces discrimination on a daily basis. Shahid Khan, Vice-Chairperson of Global Minorities Alliance, said: “As an organisation which fights for the rights of persecuted minority communities the world over, we were proud to be able to show our support for Glasgow's Roma population at the International Roma Day celebrations. “We stand for justice, peace and equality, which is something Roma communities worldwide struggle for on a daily basis. As a minority group they face social exclusion, hostility, negative stereotyping in the press and outright prejudice on the streets in the countries that have often been their homes for generations. “This cannot be tolerated in Glasgow, a famously welcoming city, and the march showed that it will not be tolerated here: we are all Glaswegian, no matter our background, and we support one another. “We joined the march to let Roma communities know that they are welcome in Glasgow, and that organisations such as Global Minorities Alliance stands shoulder to shoulder with them and will advocate for their human rights should these rights whenever these rights are infringed upon.” As a minority group, Roma communities have often faced persecution throughout history. Somewhere between 200,000 and a million Roma people were murdered during the Holocaust, and today communities face discrimination and marginalisation across Europe, often having unequal access to housing, education and the labour market. The Roma population of Scotland is estimated to be around 4,500, with around 3,500 of those living in Glasgow. There are 10 to 12 million Roma people in Europe, making them the largest trans-national minority group across the continent. International Roma Day has been held every year since 1971, where it was conceived by the 4th Romani World Conference.