Exeter was one of many cities to take part in a day of protest against the Israeli campaign in Gaza. Over 1000 turned out in one of the biggest marches since 2003.
A series of demonstrations took place in the city in January as part of a national campaign against the Israeli attack on the Gaza strip. Using a network of well-organised local people, a coalition of groups linked up to organise a march through the city centre on Saturday 17th January. Over 600 took part in rallies in Nottingham, 500 in Cambridge, but Exeter’s brought some 1000 people to the streets, in the largest demonstration since the anti-Gulf War marches in 2003. The march started outside the Odeon cinema on Sidwell Street and stopped at Southernhay for speeches activists. But many were angry about a last minute decision by Exeter Cathedral to refuse the marchers space to use the green as a gathering point. Many speakers, including some Christians, were openly critical of the decision.
At Southernhay, marchers held a minute’s silence for the victims of the attacks in Gaza, and speakers gave testimonies from varying experiences of the middle east troubles. Odai Mashraqa, 21, a student at Exeter University who is from Ramallah, gave a moving call for a peaceful resolution. “As much as Israel tries to suppress the Palestinians, this conflict will never end. The only way forward is peace. We want to send a message that this violence should not continue. I would like to tell people that the Palestinians will continue to fight for a just, peaceful resolution for Palestine where the Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace.”
The march was organised by Exeter Stop the War Coalition, Exeter Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Exeter University Friends of Palestine. Organiser Lizi Alnot said she was very pleased with the peaceful march.
“The march was built with 5 days notice.” She told the Flying Post. “I was so pleased we raised £1000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians from a street collection as this was the charity I used to work for when I lived in Palestine.”
“We were very surprised that the Cathedral refused our request to finish the march on the Cathedral Green. The refusal we [received] was part practical about the time restraints needed to make a booking but more worryingly was about the Cathedral being unwilling for the Green to be used by a political group putting across only one side of an argument. Clearly the Cathedral had missed the point that the march was being called in the face of a humanitarian disaster.”
To get involved:www.exeterpsc.org.ukor for Stop the War email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it There are monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month 7pm at the Global Centre, Exeter Community Centre, St Davids Hill, Exeter.