Two weeks after hundreds gathered in Bradford Live to celebrate the Race Equality Network’s 25th anniversary, the sense of momentum from that night still reverberates across the city’s civic and grassroots spaces.

What might have been a simple commemoration has instead become a rallying point: a reminder that a quarter-century of work on racial justice is both a milestone and a mandate, as communities across Bradford continue to confront inequality and fight for human rights.

At the anniversary gala, REN members, activists, community organisers and national figures came together to reflect on the Network’s legacy and to sharpen its purpose for the years ahead.

The evening, hosted by the artist and activist Jermain Jackman, blended celebration with a clear-eyed assessment of the challenges still facing racialised communities. Jackman’s presence set the tone for a night that felt as much about the future as the past.

Speakers from across the movement shaped the narrative of resilience and resolve. Former Chair Yusuf Karolia and CEO Humma Nizami reflected on decades of capacity building and community development, while incoming Chair Carol Peltier offered a bold, hopeful vision for the next phase of REN’s work.

MP Naz Shah (pictured above) spoke candidly about representation and lived experience, urging continued action to dismantle systemic inequalities.

Contributions from Kojo of Black Lives Matter UK, Lee Jasper, Sammie Phoenix of Healthwatch Bradford, and Sam Keighley from the VCS Alliance underscored the breadth of the struggle for racial justice across sectors.

REN’s staff team, including Nadim Qureshi, Fatima Mahmood and Piers Telemacque, added their own reflections, illustrating how advocacy, activism and lived experience intertwine in the fight for dignity, opportunity and safety for all communities.

Throughout the night, themes of hope, justice, solidarity and human rights were woven through speeches, conversations and performances. For REN, hope is not passive: it is the collective belief that a fairer society can be built through persistence and accountability. Solidarity, several speakers noted, remains the movement’s most powerful tool.

CEO Humma Nizami said: “This anniversary is not just a celebration of our history. It is a celebration of everyone who has stood with us over the last 25 years. REN has always been powered by people who refuse to accept inequality as inevitable.” 

She added that racial justice “doesn’t happen by accident” but through communities unafraid to challenge harmful systems.

Incoming Chair Carol Peltier echoed that sentiment, describing the evening as “a reaffirmation of our purpose.” Every voice and every act of resistance, she said, brings society closer to fairness and equity.

Performances by Hassan Khan, Musumba and Ahmed Nizami added emotional depth to the programme, capturing themes of identity, resistance and collective memory. Around tables, attendees shared stories of progress, frustration and renewed determination, reflecting a movement that has weathered setbacks yet remains unshaken.