Don’t let them silence the fight against racism.
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Everyone deserves to live free from racism. That’s almost impossible when the organisations defending our rights are forced to disappear.

Across Europe, organisations fighting racism are facing growing pressure. Funding is disappearing. Public attacks are increasing. Community groups are being forced to spend more time defending their existence than defending people’s rights. 

For 28 years, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) has been the backbone of the fight against structural racism in Europe — bringing together more than 140 anti-racist organisations, from grassroots collectives to NGOs, across the continent. It helped pass key EU anti-discrimination laws; holds European institutions accountable; it connects, builds capacity and an entire infrastructure for anti-racist organising; but also funds about 20 small organisations per year, that are often excluded from traditional philanthropy. It ensures that racialised communities have a voice in European institutions.  

Now Europe’s largest anti-racism network is at risk of being silenced. 

After an unusually long, burdensome and opaque administrative process, the European Commission has announced its intention to end ENAR’s core funding despite the network meeting its contractual obligations.  

If this network disappears, it is not just one organisation that is lost! 
It means fewer organisations working together across borders. Fewer resources reaching local communities. Less support for people experiencing racism. Less independent evidence holding governments accountable. And fewer opportunities for those most affected by discrimination to shape the decisions that affect their lives. 

This is about more than just a funding decision. 

If institutions can quietly dismantle the infrastructure that allows people to organise against racism, every movement working for justice becomes more vulnerable. Independent civil society organisations must be able to speak up, challenge power and represent communities without fear of being silenced by defunding. 

Racism only grows stronger when those who challenge it are silenced.