MP reports anti-fascist group to police after poster equates ‘Zionists’ with far-Right

A Labour MP has reported an anti-fascist group in north London to the police after a poster from a protest equated “Zionists” with the far-Right.

Sarah Sackman, the new MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said material shared by groups ahead of a demonstration in North Finchley on Wednesday evening was “clearly anti-Semitic”.

Around 1,000 activists and dozens of police gathered along North Finchley High Road over concerns that far-Right agitators were planning to target an immigration office.

A poster from the group Finchley Against Fascism, advertising the event, read: “Get Fascists, Racists, Nazis, Zionists and Islamophobes out of Finchley.”

A small number of demonstrators were said to have later chanted “Free Palestine” outside a local synagogue.

Ms Sackman, who is the Solicitor General, did not directly specify the leaflets but said a number of “concerned residents” had voiced concerns over posts from “so-called anti-fascist groups” which are “clearly anti-Semitic”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she wrote: “I’ve said once and I’ll say it again. Whether it’s the far-Right or far-Left, there can be zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or racism in any form. There is no place for such hate in our community.”

Ms Sackman said she had reported the posts to the Metropolitan Police and the Community Security Trust, a charity that seeks to protect British Jews from harassment and violence.

Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future, a think tank, said the protesters had “marred their defence” of the immigration office by using the “anti-Semitic” slogan “Zionists out of Finchley”.

Stand Up to Racism, the main organiser of the counter-demonstration in North Finchley, said Finchley Against Fascism was not connected to it and denounced the content of the leaflet.

A spokesman told The Jewish Chronicle: “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.”

A spokesman for the Community Security Trust said: “To see these posts circulating in relation to a densely populated Jewish area like Finchley is completely wrong and threatening to the Jewish community. There is no place for such hatred, especially at a time where we must all stand united against anti-Semitism and racism of all kinds.”

The Met has been approached for comment.