In an open letter, 20 civil society organisations have taken a stand ahead of the upcoming coalition negotiations. They call on Die Linke Berlin to consistently implement the commitments made in its election program to combat racial profiling, police violence and structural racism.

Berlin, 3 November 2026 – Anti-racist demands must not be sacrificed in exchange for participation in government. This is the message we, as civil society organisations, are sending to Die Linke Berlin. We call on the party to stand by its commitments to a progressive approach to public safety, as set out in its election program, and to implement them should they form a government.

For years, we have been fighting racism in state institutions, racist policing and the criminalization of migrantized communities in Berlin. We support people affected by police violence and discriminatory police controls. We see how structural racism embedded in current security policy makes everyday life unsafe for many people in Berlin.

“We expect a left-wing party to pursue left-wing politics. This includes tackling structural racism in state authorities and standing up for a vision of safety rooted in solidarity,” says Lara Möller of the Justice Collective. “Instead, the exploratory talks have shown that the party apparently seems willing to sacrifice a progressive approach to public safety at the negotiating table in exchange for participation in government. We will not let this go unchallenged.”

Any participation by a left-wing party in government must be judged by whether it brings about genuine structural change. We expect Die Linke Berlin to take its political commitments seriously and to consistently oppose racism, policing and surveillance in the coalition negotiations.

Signatory organisations:

Justice Collective e.V., Kampagne für Opfer rassistischer Polizeigewalt (KOP), Kiez ohne Kontrollzone, Ihr seid keine Sicherheit, Kein Generalverdacht, Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie e.V., Wrangelkiez United!, Bündnis Görli zaunfrei, Courtwatch Berlin, reach out / Ariba e.V., Flüchtlingsrat Berlin e.V., Beratungs- und Betreuungszentrum für junge Geflüchtete und Migrant:innen, With Wings and Roots e.V., Hydra e.V., Komitee zur Unterstützung der politischen Gefangenen im Iran-Berlin e.V., AK Antirassismus und Migration der OMAS GEGEN RECHTS Berlin, My Brain My Choice Initiative, BIWOC* Rising, Iranische Aktivist*innen im Exil - Berlin, BIPoC for Future