Campaigners have vowed not to be “divided by fear” when a neo-Nazi rally comes to Golders Green.
Launched by the London Jewish Forum and anti-fascist group Hope not Hate, Golders Green Together aims to unite communities and celebrate diversity before the far-right demonstration on July 4.
In a statement, Golders Green Together said: “Their aim is to spread fear and division, to fracture the peace and good neighbourliness that exists between our communities and to insult the memory of those who died at the hands of their murderous forebears.
“We believe that the most effective response we can have to this provocation is to show our communities reject the politics of hatred, and instead stand together.
“We have planned a series of dignified and appropriate activities in response to the demonstration showing that Golders Green's communities won’t be divided.”
People will be urged to share messages on Twitter using the hashtag #GoldersGreenTogether, and the area will be decorated with gold and green ribbons the day before the rally to show its strength and diversity.
The campaign is being supported by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and has been discussed with Jewish security group the Community Security Trust (CST).
The Metropolitan Police has no legal power to ban the ‘static’ gathering, which has been linked to an anti-Semitic demonstration in Stamford Hill in April, which the CST says was attended by 20 to 30 ageing neo-Nazis, who were “drowned out” by anti-fascists.
Jay Stoll, public affairs director at the London Jewish Forum, said: “We are asking for a simple message of unity. It’s never a bad thing for a community as diverse and brilliant as Golders Green to celebrate its cohesiveness and unity in the face of Nazi presence.
“The Jewish community does not stand alone on this issue.”
Counter-demonstrations have been planned on the day by anti-fascist groups, as well as the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism UK.
Mr Stoll said: “We acknowledge the counter demonstrations are legitimate. If people do want to turn up against the Nazis, they are well within their rights to do so, just as the people who live in that community will want to keep Shabbat as normal.”
He said there had been “massive support” for the campaign, and was confident the police and Home Office “have tried to make sure there is as little disruption to the community as possible.”
Mr Stoll added the community has two “trains of thought” over the matter – either to ignore the neo-Nazis, or those who felt “we should probably do something.”
He said the Golders Green Together campaign would satisfy both camps.
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