Actor Hawke backs Madonna over plea for gypsies' rights

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 18:46

ACTOR Ethan Hawke has praised Madonna for her decision to speak out in support of gypsies.

Her decision to make the public statement provoked boos from thousands of fans at her concert in Romania.

But Hawke, visiting Romania to help promote his mother's charity supporting education for gypsy children, placed the pop superstar alongside Bob Marley and John Lennon as part of a tradition of artists speaking out against racism.

"She transcended being a pop star," he told reporters. "She drew international attention and shone the spotlight on a level of racism and the need for greater education," Hawke said.

At an August concert in Bucharest on her Sticky & Sweet tour, Madonna called for an end to widespread discrimination against Eastern Europe's gypsies, also known as Roma. Thousands of fans responded by booing her.

"I don't have an agenda, Madonna doesn't have an agenda. We aren't politicians," Hawke said.

Hawke, 38, last night attended a charity ball aimed at raising money for the minority group

A pair of Madonna's Christian Dior shoes with autographed skyscraper gold heels were in the giant palace of the late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Among the other prizes is a gold chain provided by actress Vanessa Redgrave.

Hawke has been coming to Romania to support his mother's work since 2000, he said. "I feel I can do something," he told reporters, "instead of being part of the problem."

Romania has the largest number of Roma in Europe, numbering officially half a million, but whose population is believed to be as high as two million. The European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency has said gypsies face "overt discrimination" in housing, health care and education.