An Exeter is for Everyone rally and march took place in Exeter city centre this afternoon, countering an anti-migrant march which also took place.
Exeter Observer counts recorded around 850 people marching under the “Unite Against the Far Right” banner while “Unity March Exeter” attendees numbered around 60 – a ratio of 14:1.
Today’s protests followed similar events in November, when Exeter is for Everyone attendees outnumbered British Unity nationalists by around 12:1, and October, when Exeter is for Everyone attendees outnumbered British Unity nationalists by around 5:1.
Today’s Exeter is for Everyone event began as a rally in Bedford Street, assembling from around 11.30am before setting off on a march through the city centre at 12.45pm.
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: “Exeter is anti-racist, Exeter is anti-fascist”, “This is what community looks like” and “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.
It passed peacefully through the city centre before arriving back in Bedford Street around 1.15pm for a second rally.
The event, co-ordinated by Stand up to Racism Exeter, was supported by community organisations, faith groups, political parties and trade unions including Exeter Respect, Inclusive Exeter and Refugee Support Devon.
Exeter is for Everyone marchers in Bedford Street
“Unity March Exeter” participants assembled in Dix’s Field and set off on their march at 12pm.
They turned right into Paris Street before turning left down the High Street, right into Queen Street then right again along New North Road, returning to Dix’s Field via Paris Street.
The marchers stopped in the High Street at 12.15pm, opposite the assembled Exeter is for Everyone attendees, until police officers moved them on.
Chanting from both sides intensified, with “Unity March Exeter” participants proving no match for Exeter is for Everyone’s much greater numbers.
“Unity March Exeter” participants face Exeter is for Everyone marchers in Exeter High Street
Devon & Cornwall Police said it had employed Public Order Act 2023 powers to impose legal conditions on convening areas, march routes and the timing of the two protests.
It also said it had imposed an order under Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to give officers additional powers to require the removal of face coverings or other identity-concealing means.
Following today’s events 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 last year.
Stand up to Racism Exeter has so far organised twenty counter-protests at the hotel in response, including today. It says that counter-protestors at the hotel have significantly outnumbered protesters on every occasion.
Andy Gibson from Stand up to Racism Exeter said anti-migrant protests at the hotel were now “struggling to reach double figures” after peaking at “around 40” last year.
