6 days ago
Mourners gather outside NT parliament after Kumanjayi White's death in custody
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family.
Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Northern Territory's parliament house for an emotional vigil in tribute to a young Warlpiri man who died in police custody in Alice Springs last week.
The 24-year-old Yuendumu man — known now as Kumanjayi White — died on May 27 after being restrained by police officers on a supermarket floor.
Mr White's family said the young man was vulnerable, had disabilities and was living away from his home community of Yuendumu because he required supported accommodation in Alice Springs.
NT Police said plain-clothed officers responded after Mr White assaulted a security guard, who had confronted him about shoplifting in the store.
On Wednesday evening, several hundred people, including Warlpiri elders, gathered outside parliament in Darwin to mourn his death.
The atmosphere was heavy with emotion as attendees hugged each other, held candles and flowers and listened to elders, other Indigenous leaders and justice advocates speak.
Karl Hampton, a Warlpiri man from Alice Springs who spoke on behalf of Mr White's family and the Yuendumu community, said members of community were in pain.
He said the family was continuing its calls for an independent investigation into Mr White's death, despite NT Police having refused that request.
"There is no trust in the system," he said.
"We call on the chief minister to show a bit of courage and compassion, and support an independent investigation. We can't have police investigating police all the time. "
Warlpiri woman Valerie Napaljarri Martin said she had known Mr White since he was just a baby, and the Yuendumu community was devastated at his death.
"We are suffering, our hearts are torn apart," she said.
"At least I was there for him. He knew who I was, he knew my house, where I lived in Alice.
"He had a mental issue. But at least he knew all his family.
The crowd yelled and applauded at calls for an independent investigation into Mr White's death, and yelled "shame" in response to criticisms of a lack of action on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Amnesty International Indigenous rights spokesperson Rodney Dillon said Mr White's death had sparked grief and agony in the wider community and an independent inquiry was necessary for his family to have peace.
"You can see there's no peace at the moment," he said.
"There's agony, for aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. Everyone's in a very sad state, and it's very hard to think how much pain they're in.
"Until we can get a government that can sit down and have a fully independent inquiry into these deaths in custody, we will be doing the same thing."
Justice Not Jails spokesperson Jade Richie said if the investigation was taken over by another agency, it should not be by police from another jurisdiction.
"No police should be investigating police," she said.
"We call for complete independence here and we call for community-led oversight.
"We have our own solutions — solutions are held in communities, communities like Yuendumu. Solutions are held there; we just need to be heard."
Justice Not Jails, which organised the vigil, has said the event marked the beginning of a "national week of action" in response to Mr White's death in custody, with vigils planned for cities across the country in coming days.
