Neo-Nazis Barred from Marching in Jewish London Neighborhood

Neo-Nazis planned a hate rally for this Saturday through Golders Green, a Jewish neighborhood in London, but police are banning their entry.

London police have banned an anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi rally scheduled for Saturday from taking place in the neighborhood of Golders Green, the UK’s Jewish News reported Tuesday.

Neo-Nazis in England have announced plans to burn the Talmud and shred Israeli flags at their upcoming march through London’s predominantly Jewish neighborhood over the upcoming weekend.

The event has not been canceled, but was moved to another location. It is expected to take place in central London.

Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign against Antisemitism, told the Jewish News: “Today’s decision by the Metropolitan Police Service is a victory for British values and we applaud their firm defense of our community. This vindicates our policy of confronting anti-Semitism wherever it rears its head.”

“This neo-Nazi demonstration was an attempt to intimidate the largest Jewish community in the UK on the Jewish Sabbath in the heart of Golders Green, on the very memorial to those who lost their lives fighting Nazis. We believe that ‘never again’ is a call to action from our history, which is why we called thousands of Jews and non-Jews to stand together against this disgrace in dignified defiance, unity and pride,” he added

Welcoming the police decision, the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from anti-Semitism and related threats, said in a statement: “The neo-Nazis sought to protest in Golders Green, as they have previously done in Stamford Hill, and as they plan to in other areas with notable Jewish communities. We will not sit idly by when anti-Semitic neo-Nazis choose to spend their Saturday afternoons agitating against Jews in various areas of north London.” The decision, they added, would enable orthodox Jews “to observe their Shabbat with integrity and dignity.”

Mike Freer, Member of Parliament for Finchley and Golders Green, said: “I welcome the action taken by the police to move the demonstration well out of harm’s way. Golders Green was obviously chosen as the original location, as the protestors planned to incite racial hatred. We do have freedom of speech in this country, but the message is clear – anti-Semitism has no place on our streets.”

British leaders have called to rally around the Jewish community and have worked to prevent the event from taking place.

Britian’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis posted the following on his Facebook page: “Many thanks to the Metropolitan Police and a whole host of Jewish Community organisations who have helped to ensure that the offensive Neo-Nazi rally due to take place on the 4th July, has been moved out of Golders Green.”

By: United with Israel Staff