Saturday 10 May marked a significant moment in the fight for racial equality, as political leaders, campaigners and grassroots activists from across Europe and the UK gathered in central London for the inaugural Black Europeans EU Minorities Summit.
Hosted at the University of Westminster, the one-day public event brought together a diverse coalition of policymakers, community leaders and organisations to unite around a common goal — to dismantle racial injustice and promote inclusive policy-making across Europe.
Ake Achi, CEO and co-founder of Black Europeans, the organisation behind the summit, said: “Today we organised the very first European and ethnic minority citizens’ event of its kind – the EU Minorities Summit. It’s never been done before, and it’s really important for us.”
Explaining the motivation behind the event, Achi added: “We need to bring our community together. For many, the fight against racism and discrimination has been a lonely one. But by coming together — with speakers from Finland, Germany, Belgium and cities across the UK like Manchester, Birmingham, and London — we’re creating strength through unity.”
Workshops, panel discussions and interactive sessions ran throughout the day, covering topics such as:
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Empowering political participation among Black, Asian and ethnic minority citizens
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Racism and resistance: Black experiences in Portugal and Finland
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Racial bias in healthcare: who gets to heal?
The aim was not only to share experiences but to equip communities with the tools to influence the policies that shape their lives.
A leading voice at the event was Alice Bah Kuhnke, Member of the European Parliament and former Swedish Minister for Culture and Democracy. She spoke of the importance of cross-border solidarity in tackling racism.
“We came together to discuss how we can fight racism in society and stand strong together, regardless of our background or the colour of our skin. With our diverse experiences, we can bring about real change.”
Kuhnke, whose mother is Swedish and father is Gambian, emphasised education and civic engagement: “A critical aspect is understanding your rights. If you don’t know your rights, how can you claim them? And most importantly — be critical about how you use your vote. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have.”
Local leadership was also spotlighted, with Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, addressing the audience with a candid reflection on her own journey:
“As a Muslim woman of colour in public office, I know the challenges of confronting structural inequality and discrimination. I lead one of the largest local authorities in the country — and I do so not for ego, but for the communities I come from.
“We need strong voices in both Parliament and local government. Don’t underestimate the power of councils — they can change lives in real, practical ways.”
The summit also highlighted pioneering community work. Aisha Rage, founder of Birmingham’s Dream Chasers Youth Club, shared how her organisation supports young people and families through sports, mentoring, and practical advice on issues such as EU settlement and mental health access.
Hajar, a volunteer from Diaspora Votes, a group focused on increasing civic participation among marginalised communities, praised the event’s collaborative spirit:
“There’s often a lack of connection between organisations. This platform brought people together to share stories, strengthen our networks, and build bridges for lasting impact.”
With a vibrant cultural programme, including live music, performances and Caribbean cuisine served for lunch, the summit offered both celebration and serious discussion.
Lively Q&A sessions, powerful testimonies and constructive dialogue made the summit a resounding success — a bold step towards building a more equal, inclusive and united future for communities across Europe and the UK.
