Black Lives Matter rally as NSW parliamentary inquiry begins

October 26, 2020
Issue 
Sydney Black Lives Matter rally. Photo: Peter Boyle

Despite the rain and wind, about 200 people rallied in the Sydney Domain on October 26 just before the NSW Parliamentary inquiry into Aboriginal deaths in custody began.

This inquiry was won after thousands of people marched for #BlackLivesMatter earlier this year after George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis in the United States.

There was a strong resonance in Australia, because 441 First Nations people have died in custody since a royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody ended in 1991. Only a few of the hundreds of recommendations have been enacted.

As the Sydney rally took place, Warlpiri people and supporters rallied in Alice Springs to call for justice for Kumanjayi Walker, who was shot dead last year by Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe in Yuendumu.

The court is about to decide whether Rolfe will face trial for murder.

The Sydney rally heard powerful testimonies from family members of those people who died in custody, including Auntie Leetona Dungay, who is leading the campaign for justice for her son David.

It also heard from a distraught First Nations woman, whose daughter had been stolen from her by authorities and is now missing. An appeal for help was made.

The rally was chaired by Lizzie Jarrett and Paddy Gibson, who called on everyone to help step up the campaign for justice.

lizzie_jarrett_oct_26_peter_boyle.jpg

Lizzie Jarrett. Photo: Peter Boyle

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