Hendon Town Hall
The Leader of Barnet Council, Cllr Barry Rawlings, has thanked Barnet’s communities, and those who came to stand with them, for their peaceful counter-protest following the threat of a far-right demonstration in North Finchley last night (7 August).
He also thanked Police and other partners for their handling of the situation, including their support in providing reassurance.
“Last night, Barnet’s communities came together in a show of unity to oppose the threat of an Islamophobic, anti-immigrant and racist demonstration in North Finchley. Hundreds of residents lined the street to protest peacefully but emphatically, sending a clear message that in Barnet hope will trump hate. The ugly scenes that have played out on the streets in towns and cities across the country will not be tolerated in our neighbourhoods. We are a Borough of Sanctuary, meaning that we welcome those fleeing violence and persecution and give them an opportunity to build a new life. Diversity is our greatest strength, and last night Barnet’s communities showed the handful of far-right agitators who dared to turn up that their poisonous, divisive views belong in the rubbish bin of history. We will continue our outreach work to Muslim, Jewish, Migrant, Black and Asian communities, and to build on our community cohesion and strength.
“The peaceful scenes from last night are also thanks to the exemplary policing the Met provided. At every turn, they have been collaborative in their approach working with Barnet Council and representatives of our communities to provide reassurance through listening to concerns and responding with a visible presence on our streets.
“I hope now that the flash point has passed and we can catch our breath. The events of the past few days have unsettled and upset our communities. We must continue to work in partnership to tackle the scourge of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and racism in all its forms. We also welcome the work local communities are doing to bring people together. Together, we are Barnet.”
Reporting hate crime
If you become aware of any other activity / events being organised then please report it to the Police. To report crime or hate incidents, please call 999 for emergency and 101 for non - emergencies. Alternatively, you can report via the Met Police website: https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/
If you prefer not to use the other suggested methods, you can visit one of the 11 Hate Crime reporting centres where you can get help to report a Hate Crime.