A snap protest outside Long Bay Correctional Facility on February 1, organised by BlakCaucus, demanded an end to brutality in custody. It followed the bashing of a First Nations inmate.
Around 100 people gathered in nearby Maroubra and marched to the front of the complex, chanting: “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land!”
First Nations Elder Dave Bell called for urgent action to protect inmates from physical assault. He accused prison authorities of denying and trying to cover up recent abuse of an inmate.
First Nations rights activist Paul Silva said: “Aboriginal people are being incarcerated in record numbers in this country. We demand an end to the brutalisation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners.”
Silva reminded the rally that the campaign for justice for his uncle, David Dungay Jr, in December 2015, continues. Dungay, a diabetic, was forcibly restrained by prison guards in Long Bay and even after calling out “I can't breathe”, CCTV footage captured multiple guards still kneeling upon Dungay’s back. He later died.
Family members of the inmate who was recently attacked also addressed the protest.
His sister said he had been held on his back and couldn’t breathe. “Since being in Long Bay, he has been ill-treated, assaulted and denied medical treatment.”
[Follow @blakcaucus on Instagram.]
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