Open letter against racist activity
2 October 2025
In the face of activity planned by far-right groups in Newcastle last weekend, 318 representatives across the culture and voluntary sectors came together to sign an Open Letter to Newcastle City Council (sent on 25 September).
The scale of response demonstrates the importance and commitment to collective action - with signatories representing 68 organisations and institutions, along with freelancers and members of the Sanctuary and Culture Network.
The open letter was built on a template produced by grassroots activists in the city. We fully acknowledge the significant role they have played in galvanising us into action and their consistent and ongoing labour in anti-racism.
For a copy of the signed letter click here.
We received a response from Councillor Karen Kilgour and welcome her commitment to Newcastle as a City of Sanctuary where hate will not win.
Racist and anti-immigration activity is growing - gaining mainstream status across the UK. In the open letter, we asked Newcastle City Council to now stand nationally as a beacon for hope, welcome and tolerance. We hope this will become a reality.
Letter from Councillor Kilgour
26th September 2025
Our reference: KK/JE/AH
Dear Members of the Sanctuary and Culture Network
Thank you for your correspondence regarding events this weekend and protest activity in the city in recent weeks.
Many residents, members and others have been in touch to raise their concerns about the rhetoric such events threaten to bring to our city, and I would like to take the opportunity to reiterate my position on this subject as Leader of the Council.
Our city’s proud reputation for offering a warm Geordie welcome is hard earned. We’re a city that looks out for one another, that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, and supports each other when times are hard.
What we won’t stand for is racism, hatred or discrimination in any form. These abhorrent traits are entirely at odds with the values of our city, and anyone engaged in such criminality can expect the appropriate response if that’s what they seek to bring to Newcastle. Hate will not win here.
As you have referenced, Newcastle is a proud City of Sanctuary with a history of providing refuge and a chance of a better life to people who have fled wars, persecution and other atrocities around the world. Your work as the Sanctuary and Cultural Network supports our ambitions for the city and helps to bring the values we hold so dear to life.
Everyone who lives in this city will likely know someone who has migrated here fromabroad. They are doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, carers, engineers, hospitality workers, business owners. They are our neighbours, friends and members of our communities. They may once have sought asylum, and have since contributed to making the North East an even more amazing place to live.
The language and rhetoric around asylum too often seeks to dehumanise vulnerable people, families and children. But anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in our city will always be more welcome than those who wish to spread hate and cause division – they do not represent the Newcastle we all know and love, and they are not welcome here.
I don’t underestimate the strength of feeling that exists both here and elsewhere about the nature in which asylum seekers are temporarily housed in hotels in towns and cities across the UK.
The council currently has no role in this, but I have already made clear that we wish to see the use of hotels come to an end, and that we would welcome a greater level of involvement that works better for our communities and for those seeking better lives.
We are engaged with the Home Office on making this happen and we will attempt to bring about change in the right way. However, I want to be clear, those individuals housed in the hotel are human beings and their journey has been far from easy. My desire to stop the use of the hotels should not be conflated with the wishes of protestors who want us to turn our back on those seeking refuge.
I share your desire to see an end to protests, that are fuelled by hateful and far right rhetoric online, taking place in our city. Certainly we are not the only city in the country who are experiencing such demonstrations and, generally speaking, those in our city have attracted far fewer in number than elsewhere.
However, a key pillar of our democracy is the right to lawful protest, and we have no right to prevent such events from taking place. We work closely with our partners, including the police, to allow people to protest peacefully and thankfully recent events passed without incident.
The council has no powers to ban protests and no role in policing, and it is unlikely that the police ever seek to take that position. However, I know that if planned events descend into violence and criminality then those involved will be dealt with swiftly and robustly, and I will be the first to condemn such behaviours.
I have already stated very publicly this week that hate will not win in Newcastle. In my public statements I have also been very clear that those who want to bring a hateful rhetoric to Tyneside do not represents those people who call this city home.
The safety of everybody in our city is, and always will be, our absolute priority and I have stressed this to officers and partner agencies. I want to thank you for your letter and for all the work you do in helping to provide support to those vulnerable people who need our support.
If you need this information in an alternative format or other language please phone 0191 2115151 or email [email protected]
Kind Regards
Cllr Karen Kilgour
Leader of the Council
In the face of activity planned by far-right groups in Newcastle last weekend, 318 representatives across the culture and voluntary sectors came together to sign an Open Letter to Newcastle City Council (sent on 25 September).
The scale of response demonstrates the importance and commitment to collective action - with signatories representing 68 organisations and institutions, along with freelancers and members of the Sanctuary and Culture Network.
The open letter was built on a template produced by grassroots activists in the city. We fully acknowledge the significant role they have played in galvanising us into action and their consistent and ongoing labour in anti-racism.
For a copy of the signed letter click here.
We received a response from Councillor Karen Kilgour and welcome her commitment to Newcastle as a City of Sanctuary where hate will not win.
Racist and anti-immigration activity is growing - gaining mainstream status across the UK. In the open letter, we asked Newcastle City Council to now stand nationally as a beacon for hope, welcome and tolerance. We hope this will become a reality.
Letter from Councillor Kilgour
26th September 2025
Our reference: KK/JE/AH
Dear Members of the Sanctuary and Culture Network
Thank you for your correspondence regarding events this weekend and protest activity in the city in recent weeks.
Many residents, members and others have been in touch to raise their concerns about the rhetoric such events threaten to bring to our city, and I would like to take the opportunity to reiterate my position on this subject as Leader of the Council.
Our city’s proud reputation for offering a warm Geordie welcome is hard earned. We’re a city that looks out for one another, that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, and supports each other when times are hard.
What we won’t stand for is racism, hatred or discrimination in any form. These abhorrent traits are entirely at odds with the values of our city, and anyone engaged in such criminality can expect the appropriate response if that’s what they seek to bring to Newcastle. Hate will not win here.
As you have referenced, Newcastle is a proud City of Sanctuary with a history of providing refuge and a chance of a better life to people who have fled wars, persecution and other atrocities around the world. Your work as the Sanctuary and Cultural Network supports our ambitions for the city and helps to bring the values we hold so dear to life.
Everyone who lives in this city will likely know someone who has migrated here fromabroad. They are doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, carers, engineers, hospitality workers, business owners. They are our neighbours, friends and members of our communities. They may once have sought asylum, and have since contributed to making the North East an even more amazing place to live.
The language and rhetoric around asylum too often seeks to dehumanise vulnerable people, families and children. But anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in our city will always be more welcome than those who wish to spread hate and cause division – they do not represent the Newcastle we all know and love, and they are not welcome here.
I don’t underestimate the strength of feeling that exists both here and elsewhere about the nature in which asylum seekers are temporarily housed in hotels in towns and cities across the UK.
The council currently has no role in this, but I have already made clear that we wish to see the use of hotels come to an end, and that we would welcome a greater level of involvement that works better for our communities and for those seeking better lives.
We are engaged with the Home Office on making this happen and we will attempt to bring about change in the right way. However, I want to be clear, those individuals housed in the hotel are human beings and their journey has been far from easy. My desire to stop the use of the hotels should not be conflated with the wishes of protestors who want us to turn our back on those seeking refuge.
I share your desire to see an end to protests, that are fuelled by hateful and far right rhetoric online, taking place in our city. Certainly we are not the only city in the country who are experiencing such demonstrations and, generally speaking, those in our city have attracted far fewer in number than elsewhere.
However, a key pillar of our democracy is the right to lawful protest, and we have no right to prevent such events from taking place. We work closely with our partners, including the police, to allow people to protest peacefully and thankfully recent events passed without incident.
The council has no powers to ban protests and no role in policing, and it is unlikely that the police ever seek to take that position. However, I know that if planned events descend into violence and criminality then those involved will be dealt with swiftly and robustly, and I will be the first to condemn such behaviours.
I have already stated very publicly this week that hate will not win in Newcastle. In my public statements I have also been very clear that those who want to bring a hateful rhetoric to Tyneside do not represents those people who call this city home.
The safety of everybody in our city is, and always will be, our absolute priority and I have stressed this to officers and partner agencies. I want to thank you for your letter and for all the work you do in helping to provide support to those vulnerable people who need our support.
If you need this information in an alternative format or other language please phone 0191 2115151 or email [email protected]
Kind Regards
Cllr Karen Kilgour
Leader of the Council
