20 neo-Nazis appear in banned Golders Green protest as anti-fascists watch with 'curiosity and disgust'

Neo-Nazis in central London protesting against the "Jewification" of Britain on Saturday, 4 June, were vastly outnumbered by an anti-fascist counterprotest.

Police far outnumbered the numbers of neo-Nazi group, with eyewitnesses reporting that just 20 to 30 had turned up. In comparison, at least 200 anti-fascist activists were at the protest.

Nevertheless, there was a heavy police presence on Richmond Terrace in Whitehall ahead of the event, with Jewish groups saying they were preparing for "all eventualities".

The neo-Nazi group waved a Confederate and Palestinian flag as onlookers watched with "curiosity and disgust", Jewish Chronicle reporter Josh Jackman said.

Anti-fascist groups gathered chanted "off our streets Nazi scum", "scum, scum, scum", "shut up, go home" and "fascist losers". Eventually the crowd began shouting "boring, boring, boring" as the hour-long demonstration drew to a close.

Among the neo-Nazi demonstrators were members of the New Dawn Party, including Bernadette Jaggers – one of just three women present supporting the far-right groups.

One neo-Nazi told Jackman: "It's not about hating the Jews, they're taking away our rights. What if the Muslims do it (get Shomrim) next?"

The protest was originally due to take place in Golders Green, an area in North London with a large Jewish community.

However, police moved the demonstration to Richmond Terrace in Whitehall following huge opposition from anti-fascist groups, politicians and community leaders.

"The demonstration has been moved which we are very pleased about," Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer told the Jewish News. "We will still be having a security presence in Golders Green just in case anybody does turn up. We are not aware of any plans to do so but we are covering all eventualities."

Scotland Yard also said they have been in contact with neo-Nazi leaders to minimise the risk of conflict: "Police have been engaging with the organisers of all the events, and where appropriate, conditions have been explained to them. An appropriate policing plan is in place for these events."

A number of people raised concerns that a neo-Nazi march had been allowed to take place, but police noted there are no laws against static protests and the police must protect the right to protest.

Ahead of the protest, the Anti-Fascist Network said the recent upsurge of "old-school neo-Nazi far right" shows racism is still a huge problem.

"Once the toxic cancer of racism is allowed to grow through the medium of 'acceptable' Islamophobia and anti-immigrant xenophobia, it can only spread in all directions," it said. "For this reason we call on everyone who is opposed to the Nazi demonstration on Saturday to join the growing anti-racist and anti-fascist movement and take a stand against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, fascism, racism and oppression in all its forms."