News: Occupy Exeter activists respond to cathedral demands

Published on X-Media Online on Monday, 16 January.

Occupy Exeter activists respond to cathedrals demands by Imogen Blake

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Occupy Exeter protestors have said they refuse to end the illegal encampment on Cathedral Green, declining the cathedral’s offer of a marquee during the day.

A joint statement from Acting Dean of Exeter, Carl Turner, and the cathedral’s Chapter urged members of the movement to stop camping on the site but offered activists a marquee during “daylight hours.”

A message on Occupy Exeter's blog said accepting the cathedral’s offer would go against the “very essence of our movement”.

The Chapter said relations between the church and Occupy members had been “under great strain”. Protestors have camped illegally on cathedral grounds since 12 November last year.

Voluntary sector worker, Stuart Crewes, 39, has been involved with the occupation since the start. Reacting to the cathedral’s demands, he said: “We chose to only give a brief response to the cathedral as we didn’t feel like getting bogged down in arguments.

“It’d be great if they could stop attacking us and instead help us with the issues of social deprivation, rather than squabbling over materialistic values. We think the issues we’re involved with are bigger than people just staying on the grass”.

Cathedral staff said the amount of noise and mess made on the green has tested the relationship of “good will” between the Chapter and Occupy members.

Mr. Crewes responded: “We’re aware of who makes the noise and mess and we’re trying to combat these issues. We have tranquillity watches every night to maintain security and peace on the green”.

For Occupy Exeter’s full statement, go to occupyexeter.wordpress.com.

This article was used in my applications to MA Journalism courses.

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News: Cathedral calls for Occupy Exeter protestors to leave

Published on X-Media Online on Monday, 16 January.

Cathedral calls for Occupy Exeter protestors to leave by Imogen Blake

IB photo. 

Cathedral officials have urged members of the Occupy Exeter movement to end the illegal encampment on the green.

Acting Dean, Carl Turner, and the cathedral’s Chapter has offered protestors a marquee during the day if they stop camping on the site.

A joint statement on the cathedral website said the relationship between the church and activists had been put “under great strain”. The message claimed “untrue statements” were made on Occupy Exeter’s Facebook page about the cathedral’s lack of support for the homeless. Residents living on the green have also complained about noise and mess.

Occupy Exeter, a branch of an anti-capitalist movement, set up camp on Cathedral Green on 12 November last year. Cathedral staff had allowed protestors to stay on site until recently.

Now the cathedral urges activists to leave the green at night but can offer a marquee or gazebo in daylight hours on a more prominent part of the green.

The statement said: “There have been a number of incidents which have put a relationship of goodwill under great strain. Those who live on the Green have found the noise, the mess and the some of the activities of the occupation disruptive and at times upsetting.

"Members of the Chapter have felt that statements on the Occupy Facebook page and the protesters' general assembly minutes have painted an untrue and unfair picture of the work of the Cathedral, in particular the suggestion that the Cathedral does nothing to help the homeless”.

The message adds: “The Chapter would like to seek a way in which this impasse might be resolved through a more collaborative approach. However, this cannot happen while there is an illegal encampment on the Green that is causing damage to our property and distressing those living there.

“The Chapter would therefore like to offer the protesters the chance to site an 'Occupy Exeter' protest marquee/gazebo on a more prominent part of the Green, to use as a focal point for the campaign”.

To read X-Media Online’s report on Occupy Exeter’s response, click here.

What do you think?

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