Digital Archive

The Racial Justice Network (RJN) is launching a new report, Afro-Diasporic Futures: Black Women’s Leadership Across the Atlantic, documenting almost a decade of collaboration with Brazilian partners and the ongoing work of Black women-led organising for black communities in Brazil.

Renaming Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport should be a move towards correcting historical distortions in Africa.

An overview of our organisational strategic direction from 2026 – 2031.

A weekend of learning, connection and collective power

From October 4 -16, 2023, the late Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was hosted by Racial Justice Network (RJN), based in UK for a speaking tour, including a visit to Leeds University, his Alma Mater. Ngũgĩ undertook graduate studies at the University of Leeds in 1964 where he also wrote his novel, A Grain of Wheat. […]

Standing with East and Central Africa Against Electoral Dictatorship and State Terror

People before profit Part 2: A reflection on how racial capitalism creeps into our organising and how we push back

Kenya’s Gen Z protesters demonstrate extraordinary courage in confronting a violent state apparatus that has killed over 80 people since June 2024. Their sophisticated analysis linking immediate economic grievances to colonial structures, their innovative use of technology for organization, and their transcendence of ethnic divisions represent a new model of African resistance. As one protester stated, “We are the people, and they’re supposed to listen because of the power of the people.”

The Racial Justice Network continues to stand in unwavering solidarity with the courageous youth of Kenya. The spirit of the 2024 Gen Z uprising against the Finance Bill has reignited in 2025, evolving into a powerful, nationwide movement demanding an end to police brutality, government corruption, and the crushing cost of living. We condemn the violent state-sanctioned response to these renewed peaceful protests, which has tragically resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. The recent death of blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang in police custody is a painful reminder of the systemic injustices that fuel this movement. We amplify the demands of Kenya’s young generation for justice, accountability, and a government that serves its people. Their fearless and creative resistance is a beacon of hope, and we join them in calling for an end to repression and for a truly just and equitable future for all Kenyans.

The following blog is an extension of the discussions which took place at the convening and political grounding for meaningful actions suggested by our communities. People before Profit explored the ways we resource and nourish our movements.

Celebrating and Reflecting on 2024 First and foremost, we want to say a massive thank you for continuing to support our work in addressing legacies of colonialism and imperialist violence throughout 2

Migrants and Racialised people are punished already by policing systems, and Mobile Biometrics further punishes and harms our communities. This report calls for reparative justice and healing justice for communities and an end to this system of policing and immigration enforcement.

Criminal Realism Part 2: Alternatives to Contacting the Police At our community forum event on 28th September, “Community Safety: Reimagined”, we explored the power that exists within our communities

Communities have long relied on mutual aid, collective care, and conflict resolution practices rooted in solidarity. This blog shares practical alternatives to keeping ourselves and our communities safe when we are in danger and when our sense of safety is disrupted.

Far from being neutral enforcers of safety, police forces have repeatedly been shown to harm the very communities they claim to protect. The criminal (in)justice system is geared toward punishment rather than prevention and healing. And it’s the communities already facing systemic inequalities that are targeted the most.

Criminal Realism: Is There Really No Alternative To Policing? At the Racial Justice Network (RJN) we are committed to repair – repairing the harm caused by centuries of colonialism, systemic oppressio

After considerable reflection and dialogue, the Racial Justice Network has decided to exit the Climate Action Leeds Partnership.

Exiting the Climate Action Leeds Partnership Our experience of three years (2021 – 2024) within Climate Action Leeds reflects broader, ongoing patterns of oppression, highlighted in our 13th Recommend

The Racial Justice Network is continuing to grow its staff team to support its radical grassroots work. We are currently recruiting for two roles; Facilitator and Campaign Coordinator for Race and Climate Justice.

Join Our Team! The Racial Justice Network is continuing to grow its staff team to support its radical grassroots work. We are currently recruiting for two roles: Trainer/Facilitator Campaign Coordinat

RJN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME 2024 About the Programme We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 2024 Volunteer Programme at the Racial Justice Network (RJN). We are looking for people who are: Who We Are Founded in 2014 by people with lived experience of racial injustice, the Racial Justice Network brings together groups, organisations and […]

RJN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME 2024 About the Programme We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 2024 Volunteer Programme at the Racial Justice Network (RJN). We are looking for people who are: Interest

The horrific acts by far-right and fascist mobs are a stark manifestation of decades of normalised racism, hostile environment policies, and scapegoating and vilification of migrants.

We stand in solidarity with racialised, minoritised and marginalised people, especially our siblings, friends and comrades who are Muslim, those who have migrated to the UK, and those seeking asylum.

Elder and Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s prolific works has lessons for us on resistance to the continued project of imperialism and colonialism.

Why Peace Lotus day is important and lessons from the 2023 Decolonial International Symposium On this significant date of April 30th, we mark the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Today, 49 years ago, s

Reflections & Learnings From The Past Seven Years Unlearning Racism’ is a programme at Racial Justice Network (RJN) that aims to mobilise white people and communities towards collective action to dism

The report is one of reflection, learning and accountability to our communities, Black and Brown-led movements and ourselves. It centres the voice and experience of Black and Brown-led movement leaders as a measure of whether the Unlearning Racism Programme has served its purpose and fulfilled its aims. Whilst also reflecting the experience of the white people who have been part of this process from the beginning, who have held the work under the leadership and mentorship of Black and Brown movement leaders and elders.

7 days to go! Upcoming Unlearning Racism Report Launch on the 21st of March

To mark the seventh yea...

The report aims to ensure that the building blocks of the 13th are documented, shared and embodied by all those working, organising and mobilising in the climate movement. The report acknowledges, celebrates and uplifts our knowledge systems and knowledge production and the international, intersectional and inter-generational decolonial methods we embody.Uses our learning to actively resist being drawn into the ‘status quo’ of Eurocentricity.

The 'Rwandan Policy' is a UK government strategy to repatriate individuals who enter the country through 'unlawful means.' The Supreme Court recently ruled it unlawful, but the government plans to push it through. This reflects concerns about democracy and racial justice, highlighting issues of power concentration and historical patterns of violence and dehumanization.

The ‘Rwandan Policy’ is a UK government strategy to repatriate individuals who enter the country through ‘unlawful means.’ The Supreme Court recently ruled it unlawful, but the government plans to push it through. This reflects concerns about democracy and racial justice, highlighting issues of power concentration and historical patterns of violence and dehumanization.

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” – James Baldwin The many ways in which colonisation is enacted – apartheid, genocide, settler occupation of land, violence, silencing – is nothing new to many […]

The Racial Justice Network (RJN) is hosting Elder Professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o in a Gukunguira: a celebration of his life and works.

URC Reflections: Wealth Distribution An important aspect of the Unlearning Racism journey has been our continued reckoning with the deep-rooted racial injustices tied to the legacy of colonialism, and imperialism exported by the British Empire. These injustices manifest themselves in different ways, notably with the global system of capitalism and wealth accumulation which leaves […]

Digital Hostile Environments and The Dangers of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. The Hostile Environment is propped up by a vast infrastructure of surveillance, and its tactics of fear and intimidation are increasingly digitised. Now, the Home Office has announced plans to operate a “fully digital system” for all migrants by 2024. To […]

By Maia Kelly As we approach the next annual cycle of Unlearning Courses, we will be continuing to trial and evaluate more approaches to improving the impact of the work. The ways forward we are trialling do not mitigate all inherent risks associated with this work, but we will continue to be transparent about our […]

Solidarity in the Racial Justice Network is happening on 30th May at 6pm online. We will be talking about how to increase agen...

By Naava Abigail Busenze Balagadde Resilience noun noun: resiliency; plural noun: resiliencies Comes from the Latin word ‘resilio’ meaning ‘to bounce back’. The successful adaptation to challenging life experiences (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004). “Until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero.” Ewe-mina Proverb Research continues to reiterate that trauma can […]

By Carys Coleman When will this raft of anti-migration, and fundamentally anti-human, legislation end? How has cruelty and ignorance of this degree been allowed to continue? Little over a year ago, RJN and Yorkshire Resists wrote about the sustained attack on human rights marked by the Nationality and Borders Act. Alongside countless others, we decried […]

The Race and Climate Collective invites you to our event on April 25th from 6pm to 8pm at Imagine Leeds, 7th floor, City Exchange, 11 Albion Street, Leeds. Doors will open at 5:30pm, and you can use this time to chat and get to know other attendees. We are excited to have Ben Mussanzi wa […]

On Saturday 22nd April, there will be a day of solidarity led by grassroots collectives across Yorkshire. Join us by attending events in Leeds or Halifax: In Leeds, Yorkshire Resists will be holding a space for solidarity and community. We will break down the Bill and what this means for our communities in West Yorkshire. […]

The amnesia of colonial violence is persistent because it has been distanced from national memory and erased as a source of conscientiousness which might prevent further meddling in the affairs of other nations.

Here at The Racial Network we're taking a look back at our journey and celebrating our 7th ...