The first of several ancestors for the WRC flag is a bicolor reportedly flown by the Romanian Romanies during the 1930s , and revived internationally during the 1960s . A tricolor version , flown by survivors of the Romani genocide , fell out of use due to allegations that it stood for communism . The definitive variant designed in 1971 gained in popularity over the subsequent decades , being especially associated with groups promoting transnational unity of the people and combating its designation as " Gypsies " . The flag was promoted by actor Yul Brynner and violinist Yehudi Menuhin , and also adopted by Florin Cioabă , self-proclaimed " King of the Roma "
Romani genocide
Romani genocide
Flag of the Romani people