— Sunder Katwala (@sundersays)
August 7, 2024
While not referencing the group’s literature directly, Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman posted on social media that: “Concerned residents have shared posts with my office relating to so called “anti-fascist” groups in Finchley which are clearly antisemitic. I will not amplify or platform those voices. Instead I have reported them to the police and CST. I advise others to do the same”.
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She continued, “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Whether it’s the far right or far left there can be zero tolerance for antisemitism, Islamophobia or racism in any form. There is no place for such hate in our community.”
Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg told the JC: “Such comments are disgraceful and we have reported them to the police and will be taking these incidents up with government at all levels.
“This particular claim is an ignorant inversion of history. Zionism was a response to racism and the modern State of Israel was founded in the shadow of the Nazi Holocaust.
“Earlier this week we, alongside other Jewish and Zionist leaders, released a statement condemning the lawlessness and thuggery of the far-right.
“The response of certain far-left and Islamist groups has shown that they are not part of the solution - but part of the problem.”
Russell Langer, Director of Public Affairs at the Jewish Leadership Council, said that: “At a time when communities across the UK should be coming together to show their solidarity against discrimination and racism, it is unacceptable to see that some fringe groups have used this as an opportunity to sow further divisions. The call for “Zionists” to get out of Finchley, a predominantly Jewish area, is pure antisemitism and should be firmly rejected by all true anti-racists.”
Raymond Simonson, the CEO of JW3, attended the counter-protest in Finchley and posted on Twitter that he “felt uncomfortable there for past hour knowing there were people around me who don't like me or want me there but I had to be there to show solidarity with refugees + local Muslim community.”
Stand Up To Racism, the main organisers of the counter-demonstration in Finchley said that “Finchley Against Fascism” were unconnected to them and denounced the content of their leaflet.
They told the JC: “We do not support, and would not share, the messaging in that literature ... Our message was a simple one: refugees welcome, unity against the far right.”
The rally in Finchley was one of a number held across the country, the Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine told the press last night that they passed largely without incident.
A total of 15 people were arrested across the capital, none of them in Finchley.
He said that, “more than 1,000 officers were deployed in London ready to respond to events planned across the city. They were ready to protect our communities from hateful, divisive and violent behaviour.
“Two large anti-racism protests took place in Waltham Forest and Finchley. The majority of people engaged with officers and complied with conditions. These events passed without major incident or disruption.
“However, officers did face anti-social behaviour from a small group in Croydon who were not related to any protest, but were intent on causing trouble.
"Our top priority has been to keep our communities safe, prevent significant disorder and swiftly deal with any offenders. A number of arrests were made across the city this evening.”
