Today in Exeter there was a parade of pro Reform etc ‘Patriot’ people, with a counter group of the wider Exeter community and community groups set to protest against them.
Present were Exeter Pride, Unison and the Green Party. And Transpilot, of course! I spoke with all and stayed with Pride Exeter at the face of the counter protest.
The police presence was heavy. Those they videoed were c. 25 black dressed and masked young people, held separately against a wall.
The police kept us ‘contained’ in a main street leading to the main street, up which the protesters would march. This reduced the amount of counter protesters (us) being able to protest along the side of the main street, and indeed ‘bottled’ the 1000 or so of us in the side street (open at the back).
The protesters arrived, coralled by the police to walk on the pavement (not in the street) opposite us. There must have been c. 200 of them, flying the Union Jack and St George flag. Their parade was just a few people wide and lasted less than 100 metres. We made so much noise with our chants the protesters could not even make themselves heard. They faded away after 15 minutes. Totally peaceful. We thanked the police afterwards; the counter-protest continues with speeches and stalls and music.
May the same prevail in the pro-TERF London parade in a week’s time!
Photo courtesy of Trans Pride Exeter.
