Who We Are

We are a network of organisations and individuals working for racial justice in our local area. We collaborate and promote each other’s actions to strengthen equality, diversity and dialogue.

The Aims of the Alliance

  • Build a network of organisations and individuals who are committed to working for racial justice.

  • Work with groups or organisations to develop events and projects to raise awareness of racial injustice.

  • Build anti-racist campaigns in the Lewes District.

  • Lobby local MPs, councils and service providers on race equality issues.

  • Organise joint public events to mark specific occasions such as UN Anti-Racism Day, Refugee week, Black History Month, Holocaust Memorial Day etc.

  • Organise public meetings or educational events in response to current issues.

Our History

On October 2021 several likeminded groups came together to organise a vigil with the title: Seahaven Remembers.

The following year, for U.N. Anti-Racism Day, a protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill was held in Newhaven. Protestors marched to Maria Caulfield’s office and posted cards calling out the anti-refugee spirit of the Nationality and Borders Bill through her letterbox.  Watch a video of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNgSrFoYnwQ

The success of these events led to the setting up of the Lewes District Anti-Racism Alliance in 2023. The inaugural meeting was sponsored by the Labour Party and held at the Lewes Constituency office in November. The constitution was agreed with minor amendments and the Management Committee was elected, including two District Councillors from the Liberal Democrat Party and the Green Party.

Since then we have continued to organise community actions around key dates—such as UN Anti-Racism Day, Refugee Week, Black History Month and Holocaust Memorial Day and to respond to emerging issues in the area.

Read about our previous actions here

Join our mailing list to hear all about upcoming actions from our network.

Meet the Management Committee

  • Chair: Cllr Dr. Janet Baah

    Janet is a founder member of the Lewes District Anti-Racism Alliance. She is a Lewes Town Councillor and Lewes District Councillor for the Liberal Democrat Party, active in a number of local initiatives. Janet holds a PhD in International Education and Development from the University of Sussex and has worked on various research projects both in Ghana and the UK. In 2018 Janet made history when she was elected the first Black Mayor of Lewes. She has been a tireless campaigner for diversity and racial justice.

  • Vice Chair: Cllr Paul Keene

    Paul Keene is a Lewes District Councillor for the Green Party. As a member of the Sussex Police and Crime Panel, Paul proposed a motion of censure against Katy Bourne, the Sussex Police Commissioner in response to her joining a far-right protest against the placing of asylum seekers in a disused army camp in Crowborough, bringing the Office of the Commissioner into disrepute. Paul is co-director of LHC Labs, a responsible, sustainable, AI start-up, which grew out of research on hate speech in social media. Paul is active in a wide range of local initiatives.   

  • Secretary: Marta Paluch

    Marta’s parents were refugees from Poland and she grew up immersed in the Polish refugee community in London. Marta has worked for many years with migrants and refugees as an interpreter, English language teacher and community project co-ordinator. She has also worked in Latin America and Turkey and speaks Spanish and Turkish. Marta is a founder member of the Lewes District Anti-Racism Alliance

  • Treasurer: Dr. Teresa O’Brien

    As a member of the Labour Party, Teresa was involved in all the actions and events that led up to the creation of Lewes District Anti-Racism Alliance, becoming a founder member. In addition to her continued work with the Labour Party, Teresa volunteers with the Lewes Refugee Support Group and is a member of their management committee. Before retiring Teresa was a university lecturer and trained English language teachers in various countries including Tunisia, Indonesia, Poland, Russia and Brazil.  

  • Management Committee member: Alex Mthobi

    Originally from South Africa Alex has worked as a social worker and human rights advocate in various African countries (South Africa, Kenya, Eswatini, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Tanzania) and is currently a freelance consultant based in the UK working with local authorities on governance, and also undertaking international work. Alex is working towards a PhD in International Human Rights Law. As a member of the Labour Party Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic branch in the Lewes Constituency, Alex has spoken out against racism within the Labour Party. Alex is also involved in Christian initiatives for social justice.