The Metropolitan Police have stopped UKIP’s planned “Walk With Jesus” march in Whitechapel, east London, citing a high risk of violent clashes. The Met described the event as “reckless” and banned it for the second time in recent months.
Tower Hamlets, which is home to one of Britain’s largest Muslim communities, has become a focal point for tensions surrounding such events.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman emphasised that the ban is a matter of public safety rather than politics. He stated: “We reasonably believe there would be a hostile local reaction to their presence, which many may see as provocative, leading to violence and disorder. We simply can’t allow that to happen.”
The march was promoted by UKIP as a Christian worship event celebrating “the month dedicated to the holy name of Jesus.” However, the Met warned that anyone defying the ban risks arrest.
Harman urged UKIP to cooperate with the police by choosing an alternative route or location to avoid violence. “We’ve had limited cooperation from organisers so far,” he added. If UKIP agrees to these terms, their march could proceed, similar to a rally held earlier in west London.
This recent ban follows the Met’s October prohibition of UKIP’s “Mass Deportations Tour” in Tower Hamlets over fears of “serious disorder.” That event led to hundreds of masked local Bangladeshi men marching while chanting “Allahu Akbar” in a show of defiance.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage described the scenes as “one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen,” comparing it to “a foreign invading army marching through our streets.” He criticised the police for “caving in to Islamists” and restricting his party’s democratic rights.
Despite these criticisms, the Metropolitan Police maintain that their bans are based solely on safety concerns and aim to prevent volatile clashes in east London.
Originally published by UKNIP.
