Stop deaths in custody 2012 Summer Action

 

A lively crowd turned out for the first action on Saturday, 11 February to kick of the 2012 Year of Action launched by the Indigenous Social Justice Association — Melbourne.

The rally was MCed by ISJA’s Sean Pickard. Ezekiel Ox, a passionate spoken word artist and member of Musicians Against Police Violence kicked off the speakers list. Davie Thomason, a rank and file member of the CFMEU and a representative of the family of Mr Ward followed him. Flemington Kensington Community Legal Service Lawyer, Tamar Hopkins, represents Gail Hickey, the mother of TJ Hickey. She updated the crowd about Gail’s complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee and argued it is essential that police not be allowed to investigate police. Next up was Marisa Sposaro who presents the Doin Time Show on Community Radio 3CR. Sposaro was part of an ISJA, Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women contingent that travelled to Sydney last year to support members of the Hickey family who experienced sustained police harassment. The final speaker was Melbourne Freedom Socialist Party Organiser and CPSU workplace delegate, Alison Thorne. Thorne spoke on behalf of rally organisers, ISJA – Melb.

This rally — the summer action — focused on four events that all occurred in summer.

• Death in custody of Terrance Briscoe, Alice Spring (5 January 2012)

• 4th anniversary of the death of Mr Ward (27 January)

• 5th anniversary of Queensland Police officer, Chris Hurley, being forced to front the Supreme Court charged with manslaughter and assault (5 February)

• 8th anniversary of the death of TJ Hickey (14 February)

Rally demands were:

Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody — implement all 339 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

End privatisation of custodial services — cancel all contracts with G4S, SERCO and other profiteers from incarceration

Hold the police to account — end the practice of police investigating police. For an independent enquiry into the death of Terrance Briscoe. Establish elected community based review boards with the full legal and legislative powers to investigate, discipline and charge police, prison and custodial health officers found to be involved in a death in custody, negligence or lack of duty of care

End the harassment of deaths in custody families. Provide funding for families who have lost a loved one in custody to meet to allow their collective demands to be formulated, including suitable and adequate compensation. Use the $590,000 in fine money to establish a trust to honour the memory of Mr Ward. Erect a plaque at the fence-line to remember TJ and publicise that his death was caused by a police chase.

 

Speech by Alison Thorne to the rally

On behalf of the Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne thank you for coming to this protest to kick of our 2012 year of action. The ISJA mob acknowledges that we are rallying on the land of the Kulin nation and pledges to continue the battle to eradicate every last vestige of injustice — a goal we can never achieve while we continue to live on stolen land.

The campaign to bring the carnage that is Aboriginal deaths in custody to an end has been long and, at times, hard fought. We believe now is the time to up the ante!

The legendary Aboriginal poet, Jack Davis, wrote about a death in custody that gave the movement a swift kick-start in the early 80s.

Davis wrote: Write of life / the pious said forget the past / the past is dead. But all I see / in front of me is a concrete floor / a cell door / and John Pat.

Roebourne teenager, John Pat, was just 16-years old when, in September 1983, he became involved in a brawl — a group of off duty coppers launched an unprovoked assault on John Pat and his mates. They fought back! A witness saw a cop belt John Pat in the face, he fell backwards and hit his head. While on the ground, another cop kicked him in the head. When a paddy wagon arrived he was dragged to it, kicked in the face, picked up and chucked inside. He and a number of other Aboriginal people — some who had to be hospitalised for a week — were taken to the police station. Just one hour after John Pat was locked up, he was dead. The autopsy showed a fractured skull and massive injuries that could only have resulted from sustained blows to the head.

Despite masses of evidence against the police, an all white jury acquitted the uniformed thugs — no one was ever convicted for John Pat’s death.

Aboriginal people and their supporters were enraged by this monstrous act of racist state brutality. I remember the passion most distinctly as we took to the streets. A militant and mobilised national movement simply could not be ignored. As the fourth anniversary of John Pat’s death approached Bob Hawke announced the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. When the Commission reported — the findings were comprehensive, welcomed by the movement and included sweeping recommendations including one that got to the nub of the issues, that imprisonment must be the last resort.

Let’s fast forward now to 2012.

The country had barely recovered from its new-year hangover when we heard that 28-year old Terrance Briscoe had died in highly suspicious circumstances in police custody in Alice Springs. Unlike the festive season revellers allowed to go home and sleep off their excess, Mr Briscoe was taken into “care” for being drunk in public — despite Alice Springs having a sobering up centre and despite the Royal Commission recommendations that such facilities be used in these circumstances instead of jail.

A new juvenile justice report was released just two days ago. It found that very night 1,000 young people are locked up — half have not even been sentenced. Aboriginal youth are 20 times more likely than their non-Aboriginal counterparts to be held in custody while awaiting a court appearance.

These two recent examples highlight graphically that the situation is not improving. In 2011, the Indigenous imprisonment rate rose for the 11 th year in a row, despite the size of the overall prison population falling.

We believe that what we are up against is systemic racism that it hot wired into a justice system designed to protect the interests of the rich and powerful and bugger the rest of us!

But despite the magnitude of the problem we don’t just throw up our hands indespair! When we band together as part of a movement with clear objectives and specific demands, what we do really does make a difference.

Today, we are remembering Mr Briscoe. We will fight like hell to pursue the demands of his family for a genuinely independent inquiry. We say no more police cover-ups made easier by police investigating police. ISJA advocates the establishment civilian review boards — elected by and accountable to the community — to be given real powers to hold the police to account. Such a body could get to the truth underlying eyewitness reports that 5 cops punched Mr Briscoe while he was in custody.

Today we also remember Warburton elder, Mr Ward. And we pay tribute to his amily and a movement that persisted and persisted to hold those responsible for his death to account. We support the family’s demand that the $590,000 in fine money be used to establish a trust to honour the memory of Mr Ward.

We also remember today that 5 years ago, Senior Sergent Chris Hurley was forced to appear in the Supreme Court charged with the manslaughter of Mulrunji Doomadgee. This never would have happened without mass action by a movement demanding Hurley be made accountable for his role in this death. It’s true that like the cops charged with John Pat’s death; an all white jury acquitted Hurley. Be he is one of the few made to front court and we got him there!Today we’re also remembering that in three days time Gail Hickey, Bowie Hickey, the Redfern community and all who abhor deaths in custody will assemble at the fence-line to remember TJ Hickey. We support their demand for a plaque to be erected at this site that tells the truth — this teenager’s death was not an accident. It was the direct result of a police chase. TJ — who was not the bag snatcher the cops were hunting — ran because for years he’d been harassed and bullied by racist Redfern cops and their appearance was the signal for him to flee in fear.

The Hickey family — led by strong determined women — like so many families before them, will not give up. The movement — with the support of movement awyers — has got Gail Hickey’s complaint all the way to the UN.

ISJA is on a mission in 2012. We want to the movement to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody to be even bigger, stronger and more influential at the end of the year than it is now. There is a lot to do and we need more people to get more involved — so tell your friends, workmates and family. Bring them to the next action.

Mark your diary for May 12. Come to the next ISJA meeting on 7 March. If you are not already on our elist, make sure you leave your contact details today.

Let’s end with a chant.

Imprisonment rates need to drop!

Deaths in custody have to stop!

Davie Thomason	Marisa Sposaro
Alison Thorne	Brenda Hunter
Debbie Brennan	Ezejiel Ox
Sean Pickard	Tamar Hopkins
Viv Moore

 

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Anniversary rally demands political freedom for Lex Wotton.

Supporters rallied outside the Bank of Queensland in Melbourne on Wednesday 20 July 2011 to demand that the Queensland Government lift the political gag on respected Palm Island Aboriginal leader, Lex Wotton.

The rally was held on the first anniversary of Wotton’s release from jail on parole.

The demands for the action were:
Speak out for Lex Wotton's Political Freedom!
Lift the unfair gag — let Lex speak!
Build the movement to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody

The rally, organised by the Indigenous Social Justice Association Melbourne, was chaired by Alison Thorne. As well as being a founding members of ISJA Melb, Thorne is also the Melbourne Organiser for the Freedom Socialist Party and a workplace delegate with the Community and Public Section Union.

Thorne vowed that Wotton’s supporters will continue to agitate for his free speech rights until the political gag is lifted. “Lex Wotton is a seen by the Queensland Government as someone who must be silenced because it is desperate to bury the shameful truth about the death of Mulrunji and the botched investigation that followed. But they cannot silence a whole movement. Lex Wotton is an inspiration and we are confident that through the fight to lift the gag we will create one, two, three, many Lex Wottons! The community needs to hear from leaders of his stature.”

ISJA was delighted to welcome Rob Stary, a champion of civil liberties, to address the rally. Stary is a criminal lawyer who is well known for defending a host of people who, like Lex Wotton, have faced highly politicised charges. His clients have included Jack Thomas and G20 and S11 protestors. He’s a vocal critic of anti-terror laws and has represented Muslims, Tamils and others caught up in these repressive laws.

Stary’s speech can be seen in full on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kqQvuNUZiI

Other speakers were Ezeikel Ox from Musicians Against Police Violence, Cheryl Kaulfuss from the Indigenous Social Justice Association, Tara Mitchell from Radical Women, Peter representing Anarchist Black Cross, Queenslander, Greg Fryer and Sue Bolton from Socialist Alliance.

The rally included a symbolic protest where participants tied gags across their mouths. The crowd collectively ore of their gags and chanted, “You Can’t Gag the Movement!”

Edited highlights of the rally can be found on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJbd58_UvA&feature=share

Alison Thorne Addresses the Rally

Cheryl Kailfuss

Ezeikel Ox

Greg Freyer

Rob Stary

Tara Mitchell

Anarchist Black Cross

Gagged

Ungagged

Crowd

        

 

 

  Drop the charges against the persecuted Hickey family


Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne, Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party, teamed up to send a contingent from Melbourne to participate in a solidarity rally on day one of the court case of 5 adult members of the Hickey family charged with riot after a racist police raid on the 21st birthday party of Tisha Hickey.

Cheryl Kaulfuss spoke for ISJA - Melb, Marisa Sposaro spoke for Radical Women and Alison Thorne spoke for the Freedom Socialist Party.

After the rally the team sat in the court and heard police cross examined by the team from the Aboriginal Legal Service.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/family-faces-new-row-with-police-20110522-1ez0z.hml

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tj-hickeys-relatives-on-police-abuse-charges/story-e6freuy9-1226061135456

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-officer-denies-lying-in-hickey-case/story-e6freuyi-1226061893453

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/family-of-tj-hickey-claim-they-are-being-targeted-police/story-e6freuyi-1226061299120

http://www.socialism.com/drupal-6.8/?q=node/1675

The defendants outside of court

The trial has now been adjourned until October 17. Another solidarity rally demanding the charges be dropped will be held in October when the trial resumes.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-officers-deny-lying-in-hickey-case/story-e6frf7jx-1226062168169

 

Cheryl, Marisa and Keith

Bowie Hickey MCed -The Rally

Dianne from Walgett speaks

Marisa Sposaro speaks for Radical Women
Marisa's speech attached

Cheryl Kaulfuss addresses the rally for ISJA- Melbourne

Alison Thorne spoke for the Freedom Socialist Party.
Alison's speech is attached.

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In memory of TJ Hickey
Solidarity book presented to Gail Hickey

February 14th 2011 marked the 7th anniversary of the death of Aboriginal teenager, TJ Hickey, in Redfern. Since his death, members of his family and campaigners to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody have continued to demand justice for TJ.

On February 13, 2004 TJ was chased by racist police through the streets of Sydney’s inner city suburb of Redfern. The police in their high-speed cars were in hot pursuit of their 17-year-old “suspect” on his bicycle. TJ died after being impaled on the metal fence bordering a park used by his neighbours: residents of the nearby public housing flats. Eyewitnesses say the police drove into his bike and with great force hurled him onto the fence. But a fundamentally flawed coronial enquiry ruled that the police were not responsible for his death.

The killing became national news with images of young Aboriginal people battling police in riot gear. For the large Aboriginal community, this death was not a new or one-off event but the latest of so many tragedies, all caused by a legal system that is racist to its core. The coronial finding was no surprise to the community or its supporters. Instead of burying this death in custody, it increased the outrage and fuelled determination to expose the truth. 

In a Communication dated 14 February 2010, the 6th anniversary of the death, TJ’s mother, Gail Hickey, sought justice by applying to the UN Human Rights Committee for a declaration that TJ Hickey’s right to life was violated because the investigation of his death was conducted by police from the NSW Police Force, the very police agency implicated in his death.  She also sought a declaration that TJ Hickey’s right to freedom from discrimination was breached because the investigation into his death did not look at the broader issues around Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and how discrimination impacted on TJ’s death. 
 
Gail Hickey explained: “There has still been no proper investigation independent of the police and government and I no longer believe that we can get to the truth within the Australian jurisdiction. There is no doubt in my mind, and amongst many others in the Redfern Indigenous community and beyond, that the police killed TJ.”

After being asked by the Committee to supply additional information, Gail Hickey’s complaint has now passed the first hurdle. The U.N. Human Rights Committee has registered the Communication.

To mark the 7th anniversary the Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne produced a Solidarity Book. Those wishing to show their solidarity with Gail Hickey were invited to add a personal message of solidarity in memory of the life of TJ Hickey. Supporters were also asked to share thoughts about the importance of building a movement to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody.

ISJA sent a delegation to Sydney to participate in the anniversary rally and present the 2011 TJ Hickey Solidarity Book to his mother, Gail Hickey.

Photos below.

Speak out in solidarity with the persecuted Hickey family!

ISJA says "Stop the FBI raids — Say no to grand jury witch hunts"

Activists around the world are coming together in response to the FBI raids on seven homes and an anti-war office in the United States on Friday, September 24, 2010. The FBI also handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to fourteen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. These activists are involved in many groups, including the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These activists and many others came together to organize the 2008 anti-war marches during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Across the world organisations and individuals are standing together to protest the United States government’s attempt to silence and criminalize anti-war and international solidarity activists. We see the raids and subpoenas as an attack on anti-war and other progressive movements. It is an attack on our freedom to speak, our freedom to assemble with like-minded people, and our freedom to tell the U.S. government that their actions and policies are wrong. It is an attempt to clear the way for more wars and occupations of other countries by the U.S. military.

We Demand:
Stop the repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc
End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

Read ISJA's solidarity message at:
http://www.stopfbi.net/2011/1/11/indigenous-social-justice-association-stop-fbi-raids-—-say-“no”-grand-jury-witch-hunts

Support the campaign and sign the petition at: http://www.stopfbi.net/about

For analysis see: http://www.socialism.com/drupal-6.8/?q=node/1531

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The Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne is please to publish this piece by Chris Cunneen, discussing the political meaning of the gagging of Lex Wotton. It is the preface to a book by French academic, Barbara Glowczewski.

Lex Wotton — a silenced voice of dissent

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Gail Hickey's claim gets registered by the UN Human Rights Committee

Gail Hickey's communication to the UN on behalf of her son TJ Hickey, an Aboriginal youth who lost his life during a policing operation in Redfern in 2004 has finally been registered by the UN Human Rights Committee.  The
Committee receives a huge number of communications each year.  Only a small number of communications get passed the first hurdle that is registration.

The registration of TJ's Communication indicates the Human Rights Committee recognition that it raises serious issues under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and that the Australian Government has a case to answer. This means that finally, the Australian Government will have to respond to Gail and the community's
lack of faith in the police investigation that followed TJ's very terrible death.

This is an important step in the continuing fight for justice by TJ's family, the Redfern Community, the NSW and Victorian Indigenous Social Justice Associations and many other groups campaigning for truth and justice, an end to Aboriginal deaths in custody and to ensure that all deaths in custody are independently and effectively investigated.

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“This Is What We Said”

Australian Aboriginal people give their views on the Northern Territory Intervention

Click Here for Order Form

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Campaign builds to Free Lex Wotton!

Two hundred people rallied in Melbourne on 1 November 2008 to protest the guilty verdict against Lex Wotton and demand his freedom and freedom for all political prisoners. The rally was organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne.

Protestors march of Bourke Street demanding freedom for Lex Wotton and an
end to Indigenous deaths in custody.

Robbie Thorpe chairs the rally

 

Alison Thorne speaks on behalf of Freedom Socialist Party and
Radical Women

Sean Pickard speaks on behalf of ISJA - Melb

Nathan Fendon speaks at the Old GPO

Statement by Mutitjulu Community Leaders

Leaders of the Mutitjulu community today questioned the need for a military occupation of their small community.

We welcome any real support for indigenous health and welfare and even two police will assist, but the Howard Government declared an emergency at our community over two years ago - when they appointed an administrator to our health clinic - and since then we have been without a doctor, we have less health workers, our council has been sacked all our youth and health programmes have been cut.

We have no CEO and limited social and health services. The government has known about our overcrowding problem for at least 10 years and they’ve done nothing about it.

How do they propose keeping alcohol out of our community when we are 20 minutes away from a 5 star hotel? Will they ban blacks from Yulara? We have been begging for an alcohol counsellor and a rehabilitation worker so that we can help alcoholics and substance abusers but those pleas have been ignored. What will happen to alcoholics when this ban is introduced? How will the government keep the grog runners out of our community without a permit system?

We have tried to put forward projects to make our community economically sustainable - like a simple coffee cart at the sunrise locations – but the government refuses to even consider them.

There is money set aside from the Jimmy Little foundation for a kidney dialysis machine at Mutitjulu, but National Parks won’t let us have it. That would create jobs and improve indigenous health but they just keep stonewalling us. If there is an emergency, why won’t Mal Brough fast track our kidney dialysis machine?

Some commentators have made much of the cluster of sexually transmitted diseases identified at our health clinic. People need to understand that Mutitjulu Health Clinic (now effectively closed) is a regional clinic and patients come from as far away as WA and SA; so to identify a cluster here is meaningless without seeing the confidential patient data.

The fact that we hold this community together with no money, no help, no doctor and no government support is a miracle. Any community, black or white would struggle if they were denied the most basic resources. Police and the Military are fine for logistics and coordination but healthcare, youth services, education and basic housing are more essential. Any programme must involve the people on the ground or it won’t work. For example who will interpret for the military?

Our women and children are scared about being forcibly examined; surely there is a need to build trust. Even the doctors say they are reluctant to examine a young child without a parent’s permission. Of course any child that is vulnerable or at risk should be immediately protected but a wholesale intrusion into our women and children’s privacy is a violation of our human and sacred rights.

Where is the money for all the essential services? We need long term financial and political commitment to provide the infrastructure and planning for our community. There is an urgent need for 10’s of millions of dollars to do what needs to be done. Will Mr Brough give us a commitment beyond the police and military?

The commonwealth needs to work with us to put health and social services, housing and education in place rather than treating Mutitjulu as a political football.

But we need to set the record straight:

• There is no evidence of any fraud or mismanagement at Mutitjulu – we have had an administration for 12 months that found nothing

• Mal Brough and his predecessor have been in control of our community for at least 12 months and we have gone backwards in services

• We have successfully eradicated petrol sniffing from our community in conjunction with government authorities and oil companies

• We have thrown suspected paedophiles out of our community using the permit system that our government now seeks to take away from us.

We will work constructively with any government, State, Territory or Federal that wants to help aboriginal people.

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Dear friends

We did it!

Our goal was to get 1,000 signatures on our open letter to Premier Peter Beattie demanding justice for Mulrunji. A grand total of 1,035 people signed the open letter.

Well done to all the activists who worked so hard to achieve this goal.

Please help spread the word.

In solidarity
Alison Thorne
For ISJA – Melb

Movement remains mobilised for Mulrunji

On the even of the trial of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley the Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne (ISJA – M) has sent an open letter to Premier Peter Beattie welcoming the decision of Queensland Attorney General to lay charges. More than one thousand people signed the letter demanding justice for Mulrunji.

 The open letter noted that the charging of Senior Sergeant Hurley was the first time a police officer has been charged in connection with an Aboriginal death in custody in Queensland. Charging a police officer in connection with a death of an Indigenous person in custody is a rare event anywhere in Australia. When West Australian police officers were charged in connection with the death of John Pat, an all white jury acquitted those charged, the open letter noted.

The huge numbers that signed the letter rejected claims by some commentators that the decision to finally lay charges against officer Hurley demonstrates the justice system works. The letter noted that the movement to win justice for Mulrunji played an essential role exposing problems surrounding this case and must remain vigilant and mobilised.

Many signing the open letter expressed anger at the way those protesting the death of Mulrunji on Palm Island were treated. The letter calls for all charges to be dropped against those in the Palm Island community who rose up to protest the watch house death. It demands payment of compensation and calls for the convictions to be quashed for those who have already been unjustly charged.  

Additional demands in the letter included full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in custody. Funding for trauma counseling for families affected by a death in custody was raised. The letter also proposed that elected civilian review boards with powers to hold the police to account be established.

Members of ISJA – M were delighted that 1,035 people were eager to add their name to the letter to Premier Beattie and reported finding a very high level of community awareness about the issue and support for the ongoing campaign to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody.

 In solidarity
Alison Thorne
For Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne

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ISJA - Melbourne supports the Djardi-Dugarang newsletter. Djardi- Dugarang
means ³Talk Loud - Talk Strong.² It was the bi-monthly newsletter of the
Indigenous Social Justice Association based in Sydney and each issue of the
newsletter has a theme broadly related to the campaign to stop Aboriginal
deaths in custody. See the attached PDF for a full list of themes. For
enquiries about free back copies of particular issues of the newsletter
contact Ray Jackson, isja01@bigpond.net.au

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Liyarn Ngarrn
This DVD is highly recommend! More information is available at: http://www.antar.org.au/liyarn_ngarn .

You can purchase a from ANTAR using the attached order form.

ISJA – Melb also plans to hold a public screening early in 2008.

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Respected Palm Island community member, Lex Wotton, will be in Melbourne from 5 - 10 August for a speaking tour organised by the Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne.

We will provide opportunities for Lex to speak to Indigenous community gatherings, work place and other union meetings, campus get-togethers, community and main stream media, civil libertarians, Indigenous rights solidarity campaigners plus all of those people out there who may never have heard of Lex or thought much about the terrible miscarriage of justice taking place on Palm Island.

We invite proposals from you about concrete opportunities for Lex to speak . We are particularly keen for your offers of places where Lex will be heard by those who may be new to the issues, such as workplace meetings.

If you have a specific proposal, please get in touch with us right away by e-mailing me or calling Cheryl on 0401-806-331. We have lots of places where Lex can potentially speak but will start drawing up a firm timetable at the ISJA – Melb meeting on Wednesday 16 July. So get in quick to avoid disappointment.

There are also two other specific ways that you can help.

(1) ISJA – Melb is holding a Lex Wotton Solidarity Fiesta on Saturday 9 August, 7 pm at the MUA Hall in Ireland Street West Melbourne. It is guaranteed to be a fabulous evening. Mark this date in your diary now.

Volunteer to give us a hand on the night. We need people to help with set-up, clean-up, bar, food, door and a myriad of other important jobs.  Or, you can come to our organising meetings – 16 July, 23 July and 30 July, 6:30 pm at Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Please print out copies of the attached invitation and/or electronically circulate it to all  of your friends.

(2) Help support the tour by sending a donation. Make cheques payable to ISJA – Melb and send them to PO Box 266, West Brunswick Vic 3055.

Lex Wotton Tour

Lex Wotton Solidarity Fiesta

Invasion Day Brisbane Rally

Photos by Ted Riethmuller

 

 

 

Dear friend of the Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne Supporters Group

The nationwide movement to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody has done a magnificent job keeping the heat on the Queensland Government to demand justice for Mulrunji.

While too little too late, the Invasion Day announcement was still fantastic news and a tribute to the movement! We must keep the heat on and not let the campaign momentum slow.

On February 3, 2007, ISJA (MSG) launched our new petition at a stall at the St Kilda Festival. In a few short hours we got 254 signatures! Good work to all who helped staff our stall.

The attached petition is designed to both put demands on the Queensland Government but also to assist in education about the issues by talking with people and inviting them to get involved.

Can you please share it with your networks?

Let's continue to build a movement for justice which simply cannot be ignored!

 

Alison Thorne
for the Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne Supporters Group
03-9388-0062