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RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Hundreds rally in Brisbane, Sydney over deaths in police custody
By Molly Slattery and Carly Williams , ABC Photo: ABC News/Molly Slattery 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. Protesters have gathered in Brisbane's King George Square and Sydney's CBD to "demand justice" over the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in the Northern Territory last month. White died last Tuesday after he was restrained on the floor of a Coles supermarket in Alice Springs. Police have said two off-duty officers detained him after an alleged altercation with a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Organiser Sam Watson. Photo: ABC News/Molly Slattery Brisbane rally organiser Sam Watson expressed anger that White's death came more than three decades after the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody . "These deaths are happening all over the country, and they have been for the 30 years since the royal commission," he said. The statements were met with shouts of "shame" from the crowd gathered. Raelene Nixon, whose 27-year-old son Steven Lee Nixon-McKeller died in police custody in Toowoomba in 2021, joined protesters. "I feel my spirit ache from the injustice of it all," she said. "We do this not for those we've lost but for those who are to come; we have a responsibility to our future generations. "One third of the deaths in custody have been Aboriginal people, but we make up just three percent of the population. "When we ask for justice, they give us silence and more violence." Raelene Nixon's son died while in police custody in Toowoomba in 2021. Photo: ABC News/Molly Slattery Wakka Wakka man and South Sea Islander Kevin Yow Yeh called for more community support from the crowds gathered. "Solidarity means action; you've come here today but there's so much more we need to do," he said. "This story is unfortunately not a unique one. "This is our opportunity to mobilise and active, do something, because they're killing us." Kevin Yow Yeh says action must be taken. Photo: ABC News/Molly Slattery In Sydney, the rally started with people gathering on the steps of Town Hall. ACT Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Vanessa Turnbull Roberts spoke first, before Aboriginal man Alistair Flanders officially opened the event with a traditional smoking ceremony, inviting protesters to the front to take in the smoke. The rally in Sydney was started with a traditional smoking ceremony. Photo: ABC News/Carly Williams Lawyer George Newhouse, who is representing White's family, spoke to the crowd on behalf of Warlpiri people. "I've just come back from Alice Springs and Yuendumu, I'm angry there are mothers grieving there tonight," he said. "I am angry there was a disabled young man calling out for his mother in Coles last week." The Sydney rally took place at Town Hall. Photo: ABC News/Carly Williams Newhouse read a statement from the family stating that White was deeply missed and loved. He added that White's family had a deep mistrust of the NT Police and wanted an independent investigation, saying the family was asking for the officers involved to be stood down while the investigation took place. Dunghutti man and Sydney rally organiser Paul Silva urged the crowd to "stand up and take a stand with First Nations people". "We're going to scrutinise the system, scrutinise the government, stand with the Yuendumu community until they can find justice and accountability," he said. Protesters made their way down George Street to the Surry Hills Police Station after the speeches. Photo: ABC News/Carly Williams "This won't be the first action happening here within Sydney and around the nation." Malyangapa Barkindji rapper Barkaa performed live before the crowd made its way down George Street to the Surry Hills Police Station. They follow rallies held across the nation, including in Alice Springs, on Friday. - ABC
ABC News
5 days ago
- ABC News
Hundreds gather in Brisbane over deaths in police custody, Sydney rally expected
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 protesters gathered in Brisbane's King George Square to "demand justice" over the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in the Northern Territory last month. Mr White died last Tuesday after he was restrained on the floor of a Coles supermarket in Alice Springs. Police have said two off-duty officers detained him after an alleged altercation with a security guard who accused him of shoplifting. Organiser Sam Watson expressed anger that Mr White's death comes more than three decades after the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. "These deaths are happening all over the country, and they have been for the 30 years since the royal commission," he said. The statements were met with shouts of "shame" from the crowd gathered. Raelene Nixon, whose 27-year-old son Steven Lee Nixon-McKeller died in police custody in Toowoomba in 2021, joined protesters. "We do this not for those we've lost but for those who are to come; we have a responsibility to our future generations. "One third of the deaths in custody have been Aboriginal people but we make up just three per cent of the population. "When we ask for justice, they give us silence and more violence." Wakka Wakka man and South Sea Islander Kevin Yow Yeh called for more community support from the crowds gathered. "Solidarity means action; you've come here today but there's so much more we need to do," he said. "This story is unfortunately not a unique one. "This is our opportunity to mobilise and active, do something, because they're killing us." Another rally is expected to be held in Sydney this evening. They follow rallies held across the nation, including in Alice Springs, yesterday.
