Neo-Nazis outnumbered in Clapton, east London

Neo-Nazis escorted by police in Upper Clapton – former National Front boss Martin Webster is centre in suit and tie. Pic credit: Dean Ryan

Antifascists and local people heavily outnumbered a tiny group of neo-Nazis, who were able to assemble only with the assistance of hundreds of police in Clapton, in the London borough of Hackney, today.

Eddie Stamton gives Hiter’s sieg heil salute on a previous demo

The teenage Stamton at a British Movement event – note the White Power symbol on the BM flag

Just 22 hardcore fascists attended the event organised by Eddie Stamton, a longstanding nazi who joined the openly Hitler-worshipping British Movement as a teenager and has maintained connections with every fascist movement in Britain since.

The planned anti-Semitic “protest” was advertised on hardline neo-Nazi and White Power messageboards as the first of a series targeting areas of London with substantial Jewish populations.

The 22 neo-Nazis were joined by a contingent of half a dozen members of the Polish fascist group, the National Rebirth of Poland, who arrived at the end. Former National Front boss Martin Webster was spotted among the fascist demonstrators (see photo, top).

Antifascist protesters tell the neo-Nazis they're not welcome

Some of the antifascist protesters tell the neo-Nazis to get off our streets. Pic credit: Dean Ryan

The fascists had intended to march northwards towards Stamford Hill, where they aimed to target the local orthodox Jewish community.

Instead they emerged from Clapton station and were led southwards by an enormous police escort, towards the Lea Bridge roundabout, where there is a local mosque.

Around 100 antifascists and local people turned out to protest against the neo-Nazis at less than 24 hours’ notice, shouting and heckling the fascist group.

Local people were furious that the neo-Nazis were being allowed to stage an event in the heart of multiracial, multicultural Hackney and to target its Jewish and Muslim communities.

Despite the police presence, the fascists were unable to reach the mosque and instead were forced to gather just 200 yards from the railway station – surrounded by police and shrubbery – in order to make speeches to each other, before returning to the station. Their event lasted less than an hour in total.

More local people kept arriving as word of the fascists’ presence spread. Antifascist activists are now planning an open letter to protest at the Metropolitan Police’s decision to facilitate the neo-Nazi event.