In different parts of Europe, the emergence and strengthening of the ultra-right movements and of supremacist and sexist positions are provoking violent threats and attacks against feminist and anti-racist teachers and researchers. These acts of violence put their safety and physical integrity at risk, but they also seek to undermine freedom of expression and thought, and the free exercise of teaching in the universities. In parallel, fortunately, there are also calls for solidarity and support for these people. Strong individual and collective responses are needed, in order to show the absolute rejection of this type of intolerable acts in universities and in society in general. From BRIDGES we invite you to show your support and solidarity by signing and sharing the following calls:

• Open letter in defense of Dr. Barnor Hesse, professor and political theorist of African-American Studies at Northwestern University, who has been the target of violent racist attacks since February 15.


• Call for solidarity with Dr. Faith Mkwesha, member of the COST network ‘Decolonising Development’ in Finland, who, as a result of publishing the humiliating and racist treatment of her son by the Finnish police, is now being intimidated and accused of defamation by the police. From the ‘Decolonising Development’ network, it is requested to share this statement between social networks and economically support with the costs of the lawyer and the medical bills of the psychological treatment that they are needing and whose economic and employment situation is not enough to cover.


• Open letter in solidarity with professors and researchers from the University of Athens and Panteion University who are being targeted, in one case, for giving a lecture titled “Love creates family”, and in another, for appearing standing next to some people who have been videotaped tearing up an image of the Virgin Mary in an argument with a passer-by. These attacks coincide with the reinforcement and promotion by the government of the doctrine of “fatherland, religion, family” and with the increasing repression of the police state and the surveillance of speech. From the BRIDGES partner FACR, you are encouraged to sign and share this letter of support.