24.10.2001

Exeter marches against war

On Saturday October 20 700 people marched through Exeter against the war. This was probably the biggest (left) protest march for several years. Also, apparently 350 people marched through Totnes a week ago, which is quite remarkable for a smaller Devon town.

The Exeter Socialist Alliance was instrumental in setting up the Exeter Stop the War coalition. We had organised a public meeting on Wednesday October 10 which was attended by around 65 people. We successfully got all potential interested organisations and groups involved ? CND, Greens, FOE activists, Quakers and, significantly I think, the muslim community via the Exeter Islamic Centre. We also got anti-racism firmly on the agenda and the issue of the racist backlash with the input of the SW NCRM. Since that public meeting, there have been two further Exeter Stop the War Coalition meetings (with about 30 people attending). They played a major part in organising the march, which had initially been called by two individuals. In the process of all this, I think the Socialist Alliance in Exeter has earned real respect from all the other groups and individuals involved.

The Exeter Socialist Alliance also leafleted people on the march with a leaflet that gave a clear case as to why socialists are against the war and why we should fight for socialism.

Dave Parks