Christians United for Israel UK has urged Home Secretary, Theresa May, to stop a far right anti-Jewish protest planned for 4 July in London.
In an open letter to the Home Office, CUFI calls for authorities to exercise powers to prevent the rally from happening. It follows reports last week that police are not able to stop the demo, which is understood to be held at or near Golders Green station.
“This rally is targeted against one of London’s largest Jewish communities on the Sabbath – a holy day for Jewish people,” says Des Starritt, Executive Director of CUFI in the UK, “The protest is deliberately intended to incite hatred towards members of the community because they are Jewish; therefore it is anti-Semitic and blatantly racist. It is unacceptable that this can be allowed to take place on a street in London.”
CUFI understands that three organisations – British Movement, London Forum and New Dawn – are linked to the event, which has been branded as against the “Jewification of Britain”.
According to a blog promoting the event, “indigenous British citizens” are invited to join the demo “against Jewish privilege”. It says “Modern Britain is occupied Britain and Jews will have no place in the restored national socialist Britain of the future.” It also claims that “the highest moral duty of mankind [is] to spread antisemitism”
Mr Starritt says, “Earlier this year, following the dreadful Paris attacks, both David Cameron and Theresa May spoke out strongly against anti-Semitism and committed to enforce legislation opposing it. Therefore it is important that we hold them to account, their words now need to become actions.”
“CUFI has contacted Theresa May about the protest and we encourage Christians to do the same. We are also organising a prayer meeting in Golders Green prior to the day of the protest.”
Community leaders and the local Conservative MP, Mike Freer, have called on the Home Office to ban the rally. “The rally is not about free speech but a deliberate attempt to provoke tension and anti-Semitism,” says Mr Freer.
Jewish community groups have also called for the rally to be banned, and more than 10,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for it to be halted.
The petition says: “A neo-Nazi rally or march in this area is intended to be inflammatory and threatening. It is racist in nature and has no place in modern Britain.
“The Jewish residents of Golders Green should not be subject to this racist abuse.”
Meanwhile, London Mayor Boris Johnson has pledged that the police will respond to any incitement to hatred.
A Met spokesman said police had no powers to ban a static demonstration and must safeguard the right to protest, but chief superintendent Adrian Usher, of Barnet Police, said a policing plan was being drawn up.
He said: “Officers are speaking to the organiser of the protest to understand what their plans are.”
Christians United for Israel is planning a prayer meeting in Golders Green in the days prior to the demonstration. If you would like to participate, please contact 01793 862210 or email [email protected]
CUFI – UK
Open Letter to Rt Hon Theresa May MP:
Concern over planned anti-Jewish demonstration
29 May 2015
Dear Mrs May,
I am writing with concern over plans for a demonstration by far-right groups on 4th July in Golders Green and requesting, on behalf of Christians United for Israel UK, that you use hate-speech powers to prevent it from happening.
The intended rally has been well covered by local and national media, highlighting the very anti-Semitic and racist nature of the organising groups. Whilst we recognise they have the right to hold a peaceful protest within the law, we believe this does not excuse people that incite hatred towards a specific religious or ethnic group.
Here is why we feel this particular protest should be banned:
The demonstration has been branded by the organisers as against the “Jewification of Britain”.
It is being held in Golders Green, home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Britain. Therefore, it is clear that the motive is intended to threaten and intimidate the members of that community specifically.
It takes place on a Saturday – the Jewish Sabbath, which is a holy day for Jews when many will be walking to their synagogue. Again, the selected day and location suggests a deliberate effort to provoke tension.
A blog calling upon supporters to join the demo uses language such as “indigenous British citizens” are invited to join the demo “against Jewish privilege”. It says “Modern Britain is occupied Britain and Jews will have no place in the restored national socialist Britain of the future.” It even claims that “the highest moral duty of mankind [is] to spread antisemitism, yet restoring free speech is central to Nationalist aims for Britain.” By their own admission, the organisers are proudly anti-Semitic.
I am sure you will agree that these anti-Semitic attitudes have no place in our society and undermine our British values. Furthermore, it raises serious concern over the security of the Jewish community at a time when it feels vulnerable due to a rise in anti-Semitism in the UK and Europe.
According to Jewish News, Mike Freer, Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green has said, “The rally is not about free speech but a deliberate attempt to provoke tension and anti-Semitism.” We agree. We also endorse the petition on change.org by Jewish community groups and signed by members of the public asking for the rally to be banned.
Finally, may I thank you for your comments to the Board of Deputies of British Jews in London earlier this year where you stated that the UK must redouble its efforts “to wipe out anti-Semitism”. Also earlier this year, we welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment that the government will to do more to protect the Jewish people and appreciated his supportive stand with the Jewish people in this country.
We trust that this intended anti-Jewish protest will be a good opportunity to demonstrate this commitment to the Jewish people.
Yours sincerely,
Des Starritt
Executive DIrector
Christians United for Israel UK
