Barbara Cohen: A life well spent fighting injustice and discrimination

NOTE: This article was published on 12 June 2023 Barbara Cohen: Friend, supporter and contributor to Searchlight magazine  Searchlight’s team is devastated at the news that Barbara Cohen, a life-long fighter against inequality and injustice and a long-standing friend, supporter of and contributor to Searchlight, died suddenly last Thursday 8th June. We send heartfelt condolences…

NOTE: This article was published on 12 June 2023

Barbara Cohen: Friend, supporter and contributor to Searchlight magazine 

Searchlight’s team is devastated at the news that Barbara Cohen, a life-long fighter against inequality and injustice and a long-standing friend, supporter of and contributor to Searchlight, died suddenly last Thursday 8th June.

We send heartfelt condolences to Barbara’s family and friends, and everyone who worked with her in so many different organisations over so many decades. Barbara’s passing is a huge loss not just to those close to her, but to the whole movement to which she dedicated her entire life.

Barbara never quite retired, continuing to use her great depth of knowledge and attention to detail in her work as a discrimination law consultant. Barbara seemed to brim with energy and passion, and we are still in shock that she will not be there at the end of the phone or an email to advise us on the latest government legislation or White Paper.

We will continue her fight against discrimination.

Farewell, dearest Barbara.


Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

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One response to “Barbara Cohen: A life well spent fighting injustice and discrimination”

  1. Marjorie Thompson

    I worked with her at the Commission for Racial Equality in the 90s. She wss unfailingly helpful, wise and always ready to step into the fray, offering her advice and assessment in a quiet and unassuming way but you cpuld sense the steel and deyrrminstion underpinning it. A true loss.