An Exeter is for Everyone rally and march took place in Exeter city centre on Saturday, countering a simultaneous anti-migrant march organised by British Unity nationalists which took place nearby.
Exeter is for Everyone organisers estimated that between 1,200 and 1,500 people had participated in the event on Saturday, corresponding with an independent count conducted by Exeter Observer.
Estimates of British Unity march attendee numbers varied from 100-120, also corresponding with an independent Exeter Observer count.
Saturday’s protests came just four weeks after an estimated 800-1,000 people participated in an Exeter is Everyone event held on 25 October to counter a British Unity march in which an estimated 150-250 people took part.
Exeter is for Everyone march in Exeter High Street
Billed as a peaceful protest for hope and unity against the far right, the Exeter is for Everyone event began as a rally in Bedford Street at 11am before setting off on a march through the city centre at 12.30pm.
It turned down the High Street then followed a route along Queen Street, Paul Street and North Street before heading back up the High Street to Bedford Street.
The march was accompanied by drumming and chants which included: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”, “This is what community looks like” and “Exeter is anti-racist, Exeter is anti-fascist”.
It passed peacefully through the city centre before arriving back in Bedford Street at 1.30pm for a second rally.
The event, co-ordinated by Stand up to Racism Exeter, was supported by local community organisations, faith groups and trade unions including Exeter Respect, Inclusive Exeter and Refugee Support Devon.
Exeter is for Everyone post-march rally in Bedford Street before British Unity march passes by
British Unity marchers met in Dix’s Field, also at 11am, and also set off on their march at 12.30pm, by which time just over 100 people had gathered. Police said they had expected around 150-200 people.
The march turned into Paris Street before following a longer route along New North Road to Exeter St David’s station then along Bonhay Road before heading up Fore Street.
It then turned along King Street and up Preston Street to head back for the High Street via Market Street and South Street.
The marchers arrived in the High Street at 2pm, chanting: “Power to the nation, deportation”. They then set off red, white and blue flares, gesticulating and shouting in the direction of the Exeter is for Everyone rally in Bedford Street as they passed by.
British Unity, which says it is “standing against the dilution of British culture” and calls for the “mass deportation of illegal immigrants” describes itself as a “proud, unapologetic force for the British people”.
British Unity march in Exeter High Street
A significant police presence maintained order throughout, except for a few minor clashes along the British Unity march route which took place near the Exeter College campus in New North Road and in Exeter High Street.
Devon & Cornwall Police said it had employed Public Order Act 2023 powers to prevent serious disruption by imposing legal conditions on convening areas, march routes and the timing of the two protests.
It confirmed that two unrelated arrests had been made and no-one participating in the protests had been taken into custody.
After Saturday’s events concluded a group of Exeter is for Everyone event attendees made their way to a hotel near Exeter Airport which is being used to house asylum seekers.
Anti-migrant protests have been taking place at the hotel on Saturdays since the beginning of August.
Stand up to Racism Exeter has organised sixteen counter-protests at the hotel in response. It says that counter-protestors at the hotel have outnumbered protesters on every occasion.
It also says that around 50 people joined it at the hotel the Saturday before last when no-one turned up to stage an anti-migrant protest at all.
Andy Gibson from Stand up to Racism Exeter said: “The people who are anti-racist are actually the majority”.
He added: “Today’s demonstration shows that, as did the demonstration a month ago”.
