Police told the Jewish community in Britain that they are powerless legally to stop a planned demonstration by anti-Semitic and extreme-right groups “against Jewish privilege” in Golders Green, the heart of northwest London’s Jewish community, on July 4, the first Shabbat of the month, the Jewish News reported.
The Jewish community leaders had asked the British Interior Minister, Theresa May, to ban the event.
The planned rally is due to be held near Golders Green station. Ant-Semitic and neo-Nazi websites have been buzzing for months with information about the event. Among the extreme-right groups involved in the organization of the rally is New Dawn.
The Community Security Trust (CST), an anti-Semitism watchdog group, said it was aware of plans for an "explicitly anti-Semitic demonstration," and warned that despite the Stamford Hill rally last April turning out to be "quite pathetic and largely ignored," a similar outcome "cannot be guaranteed in Golders Green."
"We sincerely hope that our Jewish community will not be cowed by this neo-Nazi intimidation," CST spokesman Mark Gardner told Jewish News.
Some community leaders are said to be concerned over the potential for violence, as many Jewish residents are already mobilizing for a counter-demonstration.
The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism UK group said it is organizing a counter-protest, and is calling on both local residents and other activists to join.
London Jewish Forum Chairman Adrian Cohen said his organization along with other major Jewish organisations, have asked the the Interior Minister to ban the rally.
"If it goes ahead we will support those who wish to counter-demonstrate in support of the local community, and the relevant authorities in ensuring that peace and security is maintained in the area," he said.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews (BOD), the umbrella representative of the Jewish community in the UK, strongly condemned the "offensive and unacceptable plan" for the protest and said it supports the community's right to counter-protest.
A spokesman said: "The Board has made firm representations to the home secretary and the Metropolitan Police and look to them to prevent it happening or to move its location within the limits of the law.”