4/17/11
3/23/11
Lake Tyers Mission - Blockade Benefit
This is a benefit for the struggle. Some of the women from the blockade will be in town and can fill you in on the situation on the ground. Won't read about it in the newspaper!
Sahara Nights is a beautiful, chill Egyptian restaurant with awesome food, a great sound system, and a stupidly large collection of shishas (hookahs). Up the top of Lygon St, near Glenlyon Road.
Come one, come all.
Musicians (so far...)
Justin Love - reggae/soul
Jake Hapeta from Kia Kaha
Zessie Lloyd
DJ Dustyn Tonks
DJ Pyro (Jeff Pyrotek)
What's going on:
19:30 - Dinner, Shishas, info and mingle
21:30 - Speakers from the Blockade
22:00 - Music starts
23:30 - Let's boogie
01:00 - Get outta here already!
Entry = $10. Includes first drink at the bar.
3/11/11
Blockade on Road to Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust WILL CONTINUE
PRESS RELEASE – FRIDAY MARCH 11, 2011
Blockade on Road to Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust WILL CONTINUE The BLOCKADE AT THE ENTRANCE OF LAKE TYERS ABORIGINAL TRUST TO STOP MANAGERS AND GOVERNMENT FROM ENTERING ABORIGINAL LAND WILL CONTINUE until our right to manage our own affairs and control our own destiny is recognized according to the UN Declaration on Indigenous peoples
On Tuesday evening Lake Tyers residents and shareholders met with representatives of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. They requested that the management and workers be allowed to come back to work or they would stop the funding.
We feel that we are being put down and threatened. We have no rights and want to exercise our right of self-determination according to the UN Declaration on Indigenous People which will enable us to control and own lives and destiny. Our elders fought for the land so that Aboriginal people at Lake Tyers could live without government control of our lives and live with dignity and respect.
Government whose policies on us have once again failed and are AGAIN dictating us. We the shareholders, residents and supporters of the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust request the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Honorable Jeanette Powell to STOP the control by the state government by removing the Administrator and handing control of our own affairs back to us. The interim committee will be reinstated to negotiate on our behalf to resolve this situation.
Contact: (E) latessa2006@yahoo.com
8/13/08
This is Our Country Too
Walter Shaw is from Mt Nancy town camp in Alice Springs,a 'prescribed area' under the Northern Territory Intervention, and is an Executive Member of the Tangentyere Council. He has been speaking out strongly against the NT Intervention and is in Melbourne to premiere the documentary film 'This is Our Country Too'- a powerful exposé of Australia's apartheid...
Hear him speak at these events. If you would like to interview Walter or have him speak at a meeting, please contact Daniella Olea on 0404189272
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY TOO Melbourne Premiere
@ The Bella Union, Trades Hall (Cnr Lygon & Victoria St)
From the makers of With or Without Fidel, Blood Diamonds and Bang Bang In Da Manor comes a brave new documentary that delves beyond Australia’s reputation of sun, surf and sand to reveal a nation ruptured by a deep racial divide and contested history. Taking the controversial 2007Northern Territory Intervention as its starting point, This is Our Country Too is a hard-hitting investigation into Australia's woeful treatment of its indigenous peoples, and a rare depiction of their unrelenting struggle for justice, equality and self-determination. The Melbourne premiere of the film will take place in the Bella Union, to be followed by a Q&A session with Walter Shaw.
Tickets: $10/$5at the door.
SaturdayAugust 23rd, 7pm
LatinFiesta/Solidarity Party
Protecting our planet, defending our communities
@
BrunswickTown Hall,
233 Sydney Rd,Brunswick
Twofantastic Latin American bands
“SantaPacha Bendita”
The best Colombian band in Melbourne,ballads, rumba and Latin rhythms.
“Da Chos”, Eight-piece Latin band
They will keep you dancing Salsa/Reggae and Merenge all night long.
Specia lGuest: Walter Shaw
Tickets: Pre-sell and bookings$20, Group of 4 $60. At door $25, Solidarity $30,included a glass of wine.
Bookings: 9481 2273 - 9419 8700 - 0400 914 944
7/25/08
Aborigines want end to NT intervention
Thousands of Aborigines are petitioning to have the Northern Territory intervention abandoned.
Activists say their petition will be tabled in federal parliament in mid-September to coincide with the end of the Rudd government's 12-month review into radical measures to combat child sex abuse.
Organisers of the petition have warned that Labor is at risk of repeating the mistakes of the Howard government.
The campaigners from Central Australia on Friday backed calls from Arnhem Land, where elders earlier this week met with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and urged him to abandon key aspects of the reforms.
In a statement signed by Northern Land Council chair Wali Wungamurra and 52 traditional owners, they demanded the scrapping of "intervention bureaucracy".
The statement, which claims to represent more than 8,000 indigenous people, described the Income Management (IM) system, which quarantines 50 per cent of payments to prevent them being spent on alcohol or drugs, as "punitive".
Instead, they advocate implementation on a case-by-case basis.
Since coming to power in November last year, the Rudd government has already rolled back some of the reforms and reinstated the permit system and Aboriginal-work-for-the-dole.
But Mr Rudd has maintained the new government will not tinker further with the reforms until it had considered the findings of three-person review, headed by West Australian Aboriginal leader Peter Yu.
Anti-Intervention campaigner Barbara Shaw, from a town camp in Alice Springs, on Friday urged Mr Rudd not to ignore the elders' concerns.
"It's good to see people standing up," she said.
"Many more should feel confident to follow the lead of these elders. We share their frustration and anger ... .
"It's unacceptable for the federal government to brush our concerns aside and leave everything to the work of the review."
Amala Groom, from the Stop the Intervention Collective based in Sydney, said a protest was being organised in Central Australia from September 29 to October 5, to coincide with the end of the review.
"They can't claim to be bringing in a new era of indigenous affairs whilst their policies bring on this latest stage of dispossession," she said.
Ms Groom said a petition calling for an end to the intervention, "which already has thousands of signatures", will be tabled in federal parliament in mid-September.
6/24/08
Water by Blue King Brown
The video includes archival footage and images of the 1982 Commonwealth Games protests for Aboriginal rights in Brisbane courtesy of Madeline Mcgrady, Penny Tweedie and long time activist Gary Foley.
The music video to the song Water by Blue King Brown.
The video includes archival footage and images of the 1982 Commonwealth Games protests for Aboriginal rights in Brisbane courtesy of Madeline Mcgrady, Penny Tweedie and long time activist Gary Foley.
This item is part of the collection: Open Source Movies
6/19/08
Qld Indigenous activist joins NT mine protest
Posted
Updated
Mr Yanner has urged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene before the dispute escalates. (AAP Image: Ian Hitchcock [File photo].)
Queensland Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner has joined traditional landowners in the Northern Territory to stop mining giant Xstrata from expanding its operations.
The courts have cleared the way for the miner to increase the size of its McArthur River operations near Borroloola, to extract rich zinc deposits under the river.
Traditional owners say plans by the company to divert six kilometres of river are shocking and unacceptable.
Mr Yanner says if Xstrata attempts to change the course of the river the dispute will escalate.
"This is going to be an ongoing mother of all battles between the traditional owners of Borroloola and multinational Xstrata," he said.
"This protest ain't going to go away, it is going to be ongoing in the coming days, weeks, months, and if need be years.
"If I was an investor in Xstrata I would be withdrawing my money and investing elsewhere, because the shares are about to devaluate."
Mr Yanner has urged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene before the dispute escalates.
"Kevin Rudd is talking all the talk about the environment - well how does poisoning a river and re-diverting a whole river after we've seen what happens to the Murray [sound]?" he said.
"Kevin Rudd needs to talk the talk and walk the walk - McArthur River Kev, put up or shut up."
See Also
Leader of mine expansion fight farewelled
6/5/08
JUNE 21: Stop the NT intervention
Rallies will be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Alice Springs, Darwin, Perth,
Brisbane, Wollongong and Adelaide.
Please forward widely...
STOP THE NT INTERVENTION
Aboriginal Control of Aboriginal Affairs
National Day of Action - 12pm Saturday June 21st @ State Library
- Repeal all "NT intervention" legislation
- Restore the Racial Discrimination Act
- Fund infrastructure and community controlled services
- Sign and implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
June 21 will mark one year since the Howard Government announced the NT
intervention. Far from improving child welfare, the intervention has
created a new wave of dispossession and is compounding social problems.
The Racial Discrimination Act has been suspended, land taken over and
business managers imposed on communities.
The universal quarantining of welfare payments, the closure of many
Community Employment Development Projects (CDEP) and the compulsory
acquisition of Aboriginal property has forced thousands of people from
their communities into urban centres.
Bagot town camp in Darwin, for example, has increased in population from
500-1200 people since the intervention. People are facing extreme hardship
without jobs, services or stable accommodation.
While the Rudd Labor government made a symbolic apology for the Stolen
Generations, in practice, it has retained and expanded Howard's explicitly
racist intervention laws. The government refuses to acknowledge the social
break down taking place. They continue to deny protection under the Racial
Discrimination Act.
Aboriginal people are suffering stark discrimination as they are forced to
stand in segregated queues in Centrelink, in supermarkets and in schools.
The practice of traditional culture is becoming impossible for many,
unable to travel due to welfare restrictions. As Lyle Cooper, Vice
President Bagot Community has said, "I thank you Prime Minister Rudd for
your apology.(but) it's an invasion all over again. We are being told
where to shop, what to eat, how to act and how to live".
Communities continue to stand up against the intervention. Scores of
representatives from "prescribed areas" traveled to join the 2000 strong
Canberra Convergence at the opening of the new Parliament. Many more will
come from communities around the Northern Territory to protest in Alice
Springs and Darwin as part of the national protests on 21 June.
One of the strongest examples is Yuendumu, where a strategy of
non-cooperation has held off repeated attempts by the government to take
over local programs and implement "income management". Jeannie Nungarrayi
Egan from the community council has said, "No body likes it, we have to
control our own community, we're going to push out the quarantine".
Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma recently released a report which
demonstrates how NT intervention legislation contravenes numerous UN
charters to which Australia is signatory, including International
Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (ICESCR); and the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
In July Jenny Macklin, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs will begin a
review of the Intervention. We need to bring thousands of people out onto
the streets around the country to ensure grass-roots voices are no longer
ignored. The new Government must break with the assimilationist policies
of the Howard era. They must act on the UN
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A massive injection of
funds and resources into communities is badly needed, but cannot come at
the expense of basic human rights. Only an approach which respects
self-determination will lead to improvements in community life.
Stop the intervention, Stop the Racism - Human Rights for all!
Rallies will be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Alice Springs, Darwin, Perth,
Brisbane, Wollongong and Adelaide.
ENDORSEMENTS:
Rally endorsed by the national conference called by the Aboriginal Rights
Coalition on Sunday May 25 in Sydney attended by over 200 people. Support
from Aboriginal leaders and activists includes: Barbara Shaw (Mt Nancy
town camp, Alice Springs), Lyall Cooper (President of Bagot community,
Darwin), Harry Nelson (President, Yuendumu community council), June Mills
(Long-grass association, Darwin), Pat Eatock, Brian Butler, Shireen
Malamoo, Millie Ingram, Pastor Ray Minniecon, Mitch, Peta Ridgeway, Heidi
Norman, Shane Phillips
Supportive organisations include: Maritime Union of Australia (MUA NSW &
NT), Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Railway Tram
and Bus Union (RBTU NT), Australian Services Union (ASU NT), Top End
Aboriginal Conservation Alliance, Australians for Native Title and
Reconciliation (ANTaR NSW & NT), Indigenous Social Justice Association,
Alliance for Indigenous Self Determination Melbourne, Intervention
Rollback Action Group (Alice Springs), Aboriginal Rights Coalition
(Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth), Australian Young Labor Left,
Friends of the Earth, LASNET, ASEAN, University of Melbourne Student
Union, Swinburne Student Union, Latrobe SRC, Socialist Alternative,
Socialist Alliance, Union Solidarity.
1/29/08
'Invasion Day' protest ignites flag-burning debate
A Tasmanian Aborigine has reignited the national debate about flag burning, after an Australia Day protest in Launceston yesterday.
About 100 Aborigines from across Tasmania rallied in Launceston's City Park against what they call "Invasion Day".
After the speeches, Adam Thompson stepped from the crowd and burnt the Australian flag with a cigarette lighter, to cheers from the crowd.
The Australian National Flag Association's Reg Watson has branded the act "despicable", calling on the Federal Government to make it illegal.
"Until it is an offence this type of vandalism will continually happen," he said.
"Those people that burnt our sacred symbol, national symbol, should be prosecuted for that offence.
"It's an outrageous offence and I think it would in anyone's estimation, an act of disgust, and I'm absolutely appalled that they've taken that position."
Mr Thompson says he would not have been deterred by the threat of prosecution.
"I would have done it anyway because it signifies something, and that's for a bigger cause," he said.
"Australians know what it means to Aboriginal people for them to celebrate Invasion Day and they do it anyway, so there's a blatant disregard there for Aboriginal people. And that made us angry enough to do that.
"What else can happen to Aboriginal people? I mean, you've taken our land. What else can you do to us?"
Mr Thompson works for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre as a land management co-ordinator. The Centre has backed his impromptu flag burning.
1/25/08
Aboriginal Groups to Protest on Gubbament's First Day
Aboriginal and community organisations have called for a National Convergence on Canberra
for the opening of Parliament on 12 February 2008. "We want to send a
strong message to the new government. The NT Intervention is an abuse
of power by the previous government. We as Aboriginal people need to
stand together to be heard as one." writes Barbara Shaw from Mt Nancy
Camp near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
"As a resident of a prescribed area and an active member of the
Intervention Rollback Working Group, I am trying to raise funds and
encourage as many people as possible to travel to Canberra for this
important event" she said.
She criticised the Government for so far failing to ratify the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"I am asking all Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations to
please try and send representatives to this important gathering. There
will be workshops in Canberra on 11 February to inform people about the
impact of the intervention on people’s lives and about the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." she said.
Details from a leaflet on the convergence follows:
Details on Why you should join the convergence
Howard’s racist intervention must be rolled back!
John Howard’s ‘Emergency Intervention’ in the NT, introduced in the
final months of his government, was a package of punitive, racist and
paternalistic measures aimed at controlling the lives and land of
Aboriginal people.
- The intervention suspended the Racial Discrimination Act and
ignores ‘Aboriginal Land’ as described in the Aboriginal Land Rights
Act (NT).- Despite claims that the intervention was a response to
‘rampant child sexual abuse’, 700 pages of emergency bill legislation
did not once mention ‘child’ or ‘children’.- There has been minimal investment in providing new
community-based services and instead, $88 million of the promised
funding has been spent administering the welfare quarantining.- The federal election revealed overwhelming opposition to the
intervention nationally, with the ousting of both Howard and Mal Brough
from their seats, and among Territory Aboriginal communities. When
Labor MPs in affected areas emphasised political differences to the
Coalition they consistently received over 80% of the vote; with 95% in
the town of Wadeye.- Aboriginal communities are calling for an end to the racist
military and political intervention and for the creation of Aboriginal
controlled services designed through extensive consultation.Let’s push Labor to improve their policy!
Federal Labor has pledged some improvements. They have promised
to restore a ‘reformed’ CDEP (Community Development and Employment
Program) and permit system. Despite this, the ALP’s policy is
disturbingly similar to the Liberals:
- Discriminatory measures such as mandatory welfare quarantine,
compulsory land acquisition and the presence of non-Aboriginal
"business managers" with extraordinary powers are not opposed.- There has been no commitment to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act.
- The demand for immediate review of the legislation from across the NT and Australia has been ignored.
Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs!
A vibrant, mass convergence on Canberra at the opening of
parliament will be an important step in challenging the lingering
legacy of Howard's racism. We can send a strong signal to the Rudd
Government to acknowledge the rights of Aboriginal people, to increase
the resources and services available to communities across Australia
and to respect Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs.Initiated by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, Sydney
9/3/07
Six charged after two days rioting in remote Aboriginal community
August 31, 2007 06:00am
SIX people from a remote Aboriginal community have been charged after two days of riots in which a police car's windows were smashed with rocks.
A police officer and an Aboriginal police liaison officer visited a police post at the remote community of Oombulgurri, in WA's Kimberley, yesterday and Wednesday on an overnight patrol.
"While there, they intervened in a domestic violence incident which resulted in the arrest of a female who was transported to the temporary police post for processing,'' Sgt Graham Clifford said.
"During this action members of the community turned on them and a large disturbance occurred involving the community members and police.''
The arrest was made about 9.30pm on Wednesday and police were intimidated throughout the night, with threats made by community members, when the town was plunged into darkness.
"There's no outside lights in this community,'' Sgt Clifford said.
"The officer and the aid were under siege after dark.
"A police security vehicle was pelted with rocks, the windows were smashed and tyres let down.
"Police were not in the vehicle at the time and were not injured.''
Sgt Clifford said the officers were forced to remove the arrested woman from the police post to another place in the community after angry locals tried to force their way into the police post.
"Police continued to process and protect the woman in custody and resisted attempts from one vocal and aggressive members of the community, from forcing his way into the police post while he was inciting others to be aggressive towards police,'' he said.
"Police had to covertly secure the arrested female to another residence for her protection while avoiding the aggressive mob in the community.''
Six police arrived as reinforcements yesterday morning, making two further arrests on unrelated incidents and as arresting several of the original offenders.
Six people from the community will face court on charges of unlawful wound, aggravated assault, obstructing police, disorderly conduct and assault occasioning bodily harm.
The remote community on the Forrest River is accessible only by plane and boat.
7/23/07
Aboriginal issues rally
*START TIME:* 5:00 PM
*Duration:* 1 Hours
*Location:* Melb: North
*Location Details:*
Outside Safeway, 243 Smith St, Collingwood
*Event Topic:* Anti-Racism
*Event Type:* Protest
*Contact Name:* stephen jolly
*Contact Email:* jollys@yarracity.vic.gov.au
*Contact Phone:* 0433113421
*DESCRIPTION:*
Come to this important rally this Friday on Smith St.
Because of the lack of State Government support for the plan by Council
and indigenous groups for a cultural centre, dry house, and 24-hour bus
for Smith St, the problems there are not going away.
Darryn Hinch on 3AW and the Sunday Herald Sun are pushing for Joh Bjelke
Petersen-style police action to deal with public behaviour problems.
There is a better way - Support for indigenous people to deal with the
issues themselves. We will not allow a Howard NT-style 'solution' be
foisted in this area. Show your opposition to racism and for real,
united concrete action to deal with the issues on Smith St.
Hoping to see you on Friday.
Stephen Jolly
TEXT OF RALLY LEAFLET -
Bracks, Smith St needs your support!
We need a 24-hour indigenous-run bus to take people needing help to a
dry house or cultural centre. The bus is ready to go but held back by a
lack of State government support. Steve Bracks and Richard Wynne we need
your help not more delays!
No to any racist solutions to Smith St public behaviour issues. Unity
not racism to improve our street.
Rally Friday next, July 27th, 5pm
Outside Safeway, 243 Smith St, Collingwood
Speakers include:
DEAN RIOLI, ex-Essendon footy star and now Indigenous Apprenticeship
officer for the Electrical Trades Union
DENISE LOVETT, Parkies Inc leader
GARY FOLEY, Aboriginal activist and Melbourne Uni academic
KEVIN BRACKEN, State Secretary Maritime Union of Australia
STEPHEN JOLLY, local Councillor (Socialist Party)
PLUS: Live music from Peter Rotuham
Rally organised by Socialist Party and supported by many community
groups and trade unions. Phone (03) 96399111 for more info
Please pass on news of this important rally widely by email, web page,
text, and word of mouth. Phone (03) 96399111 or email
info@socialistpartyaustralia.org
7/3/07
PROTEST
Hi people there has been changes to Saturdays protest 12:30. march
from the Tent Embassy to march to Garema Place Civic, and rally at
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Saturday 14th July 2007
Saturday 12:30.
Join us in a march from the Tent Embassy to new Parliament House(kkkanberra).
How can we celebrate NAIDOC when the government occupies Aboriginal
Communities with armed forces?
Invasion is happening again in Australia. The Howard regime similar to
Hitler’s regime has occupied communities. While they say it’s in the
best interest of the Aboriginal people we know it’s a land grab.
Fight for Justice for Aboriginal people.
Yours in the Battle
Kerry
Kerry Reed-Gilbert
Associate Dip Adult Ed (Aboriginal)
BEd (Adults)
Kuracca Consultancy & Communications
PO Box 623
Dickson ACT 2602
Ph/Fax: 02 6241 7346
Mobile: 0415 469 512
Web: www.kuracca.com
6/13/07
Doomadgee's injuries akin to 'plane crash'
* Tony Koch
* June 13, 2007
THE split liver which resulted in the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee in the Palm Island watchhouse on November 19, 2004, was an injury more commonly found in people who suffered a high-speed vehicle accident, plane crash or skiing accident involving a collision with a tree, the Townsville Supreme court was told this morning.
Pathologist Dr Guy Lampe said he performed two autopsies on the body of Doomadgee and his opinion was that the injury was most likely caused by a "body projection" such as a knee being forced into his abdomen as he lay on his back on the concrete floor in the police station.
Dr Lampe was giving evidence in the trial of police officer Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley who is charged with unlawfully assaulting and killing Mulrunji Doomadgee after he arrested him on Palm Island for swearing.
Dr Lampe said the autopsy revealed that Doomadgee suffered four broken ribs on his right side as well as the ruptured liver and ruptured portal vein - which caused bleeding into his abdomen and resulted in his death within an hour of his arrest.
He said that in his opinion the rib breakages were caused by compression on the solar plexis, and the same compression caused the liver to be forced onto the spinal column, almost severing the organ and puncturing the portal vein.
In response to questions from counsel assisting the prosecutor, Mr David Kent, Dr Lampe said he considered all the injuries occurred at the same time. He also described bruising to Mulrunji's right eye and to the knuckles of both hands
6/11/07
Stop the genocide
Nulyarimma v Thompson; Buzzacott v Hill, Downer & Commonwealth of Australia
A5 of 1999
Wadjularbinna Nulyarimma, Isobel Coe, Billy Craigie & Robbie Thorpe v Phillip R Thompson
[on appeal from the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory]
S23 of 1999
Kevin Buzzacott v Robert Hill, Minister of the Environment, Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade & the Commonwealth of Australia
Federal Court of Australia (Wilcox, Whitlam and Merkel JJ)
1 September, 1999
[1999] FCA 1192; 165 ALR 621.
CRIMINAL LAW — international crime of genocide — meaning of genocide — intentional element — prohibition of genocide as a norm of international customary law — no legislation providing for prosecution of genocide claims in Australian courts — whether genocide is cognisable in Australian courts in the absence of legislation.
ABORIGINES — claims that sponsorship of Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) amendments and failure to seek World Heritage listing of Lake Eyre region were acts of genocide – impropriety of courts inquiring into actions of Parliament — obligations arising under World Heritage Convention.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AILR/2000/4.html
6/8/07
Black supporters to wear Mulrinji wristbands at Hurley trial
Hundreds of Aborigines and community supporters will wear bright yellow wristbands (pictured above) to the Townsville court next Tuesday when they gather to observe the trial of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley who has been charged with the manslaughter and assault of Mulrunji Doomadgee in 2004 in the Palm Island watchhouse.
The wristbands are being worn to support the campaign for justice for all Aboriginal deaths in custody victims and as a direct counter to the decision by the Police Union to sell blue wristbands to raise funds for Hurley's legal costs.
"These wrist bands will be our way of showing the state police that we won't be intimidated nor silenced by police rallies and threats by police to march on state parliament," said Sam Watson, the national Socialist Alliance Indigenous spokesperson and endorsed senate candidate for Queensland. "We do not believe that it is appropriate that police should be allowed to wear those blue wrist bands in support of an officer charged over the brutal death of an innocent person who was in Hurley's custody when he died."
Mulrunji Doomadgee's death in the Palm island watch-house in 2004, led to a mass national campaign that culminated in two coronial inquests and a top level review of the Crown Prosecutor's decision not to charge Hurley over the death of Doomadgee.
"We will be at the court in strength to ensure that the jury and the witnesses will not feel intimidated or pressured by the huge police presence that has been promised by the authorities." Sam Watson said. "This matter must be decided on it's merits, and we call on those who are attempting to intimidate to step back and allow justice to prevail. The entire Aboriginal community and supporters of justice throughout Australia and the world will follow this trial very closely."
Hurley is the first officer to ever be charged over an Aboriginal death in custody in Queensland, and one of only a few cases in Australia. Where the police wristbands carry Hurley's badge number, the yellow "Justice Now!" bands carry the date of Mulrunji's death in police custody.
For information or interview, phone Sam Watson 0401 227 443 You can get your own band for $5 or $3 concession - for bulk orders of over 25 (we will accept $2 per band)at a Socialist alliance stall or from the Brisbane Activist Centre, 74b Wickham St, Fortitude Valley Ph: (07) 3139 1765; 3831 2644 Mob: 0410 629 088
http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=653
4/8/07
DEATH IN CUSTODY RALLY A CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR CARL WOODS
BLACK FRIDAY, 13TH APRIL, 12 NOON, CORNER OF ST GEORGES TCE AND BARRACK ST, PERTH.Rally and speakers, followed by a march on the Premiers office.
Carl Woods was arrested at the scene of a home invasion on April 11th, 2006. Police report that he struggled and had to be subdued. Once arrested he was placed in the back of a police van, but according to their initial reports when he was checked a short time later he was dead.
His family members and and all of us who have seen the photos are horrified by the obvious physical injuries he appears to have sustained.
Eleven months later and the police have still not finalized their own reports into his death.
Consequently, no Coronial Inquest has been carried out. This has many parallels to the Palm Island case and the silence and inaction must be challenged.
We, the Deaths In Custody Watch Committee, have been working with the family and other community members and are mounting a public campaign including a letter of demand to the Premier and a rally on Black Friday this month (the 13th April, 12 noon, Cnr of St Georges Tce and Barrack St). Please join us to call for justice; for Carl, the Woods family, and all those who have died in custody.
Further info: Marc Newhouse - 0415 074 602 Khristo Newall - 040 895 1375
- Please wear black armband/bandanna or something black -
3/29/07
Judge withdraws from Palm Island case
Lex Wotton, from the north Queensland island, earlier pleaded guilty to rioting with destruction but last week sought to withdraw that plea.
On Thursday, his lawyer asked Brisbane District Court Judge Milton Griffin to step down from hearing the withdrawal application.
Wotton pleaded guilty as the trial of four men charged with rioting with destruction over the Palm Island incident recently started before Judge Griffin.
But he sought to change his plea just hours before the four - John Major Clumpoint, William Neville Blackman, Lance Gabriel Poynter and Dwayne Daniel Blanket - were found not guilty last week.
The island's police station and courthouse were razed during the riot that erupted a week after the controversial Palm Island watch-house death of Mulrunji Doomadgee.
Defence barrister Peter King on Thursday argued Judge Griffin could not bring an "unprejudiced mind" to the upcoming hearing of the withdrawal application.
Mr King said the judge had dismissed his client's version of events contained in an affidavit submitted during a bail application on March 16.
"Your honour said it was a 'complete misrepresentation of what occurred," Mr King said.
He said a transcript tendered to the court revealed Judge Griffin had commented: "What occurred in my view to cause the people to move toward the police station were the words, among others, of your client".
At the time, Judge Griffin also allegedly said he found the affidavit misleading "because it is contrary to what is shown on the video".
The footage allegedly featured Wotton shouting "things are going to burn".
Mr King suggested Judge Griffin had "reached a conclusion Wotton was the ringleader".
"Your honour made observations which might be described as findings of fact, which were made in advance of an agreed statement of facts," he said.
Mr King said Judge Griffin had made those comments despite Wotton not being cross-examined nor giving evidence at the trial of the four other men.
He said the comments had been adverse to his client's "credit".
Mr King denied his client was the alleged ringleader and questioned the "integrity" of the video footage.
"Wotton was not the ringleader, not the person that led the crowd to the police station, he did not behave riotously," he said.
"In fact, the police asked him to intervene on their behalf to ask the crowd to go home."
He said the guilty plea should be scrapped because it was, among other reasons, "not attributable to a genuine consciousness of guilt".
Judge Griffin said his comments were based on Wotton's guilty plea and details submitted to the court alleging Wotton had "gone to the police station, smashed windows and so on".
"The man had pleaded guilty," Judge Griffin said.
However, Judge Griffin said another judge would hear the matter.
© 2007 AAP
been learning alot from watching and supporting Murri resistance against Gubbment oppression, ending the silence, stopping the genocide in Australia against Aboriginal peoples. heres another item of interest, that Steve(I kill Aborigines) Hurley, should be tried on Palm Island
Thursday, March 29, 2007. 12:15pm (AEST)
Lawyer wants Hurley trial held on Palm Island
Hurley is charged with manslaughter for the death of Palm Island man Mulrunji.
Mr Levitt was a member of the legal team that succeeded in shifting the trial of Lex Wotton, accused of rioting on Palm Island, from Townsville to Brisbane.
He said earlier this week, the police officer's trial should be moved to Brisbane because of the difficulty of finding non-racist jurors in Townsville.
Now Mr Levitt says ideally Mr Hurley's fate should be in the hands of an Indigenous jury.
"Very often they are subjected to trials where they are the lone black person being trialled by whites. So it's a situation where sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander in Queensland," he said.
Mr Levitt says ideally the trial should be held in the town where the alleged crime was committed.
"Palm Island is geographically further from Townsville than the north of France is from the south of England, but culturally and in every respect it's a million miles away," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1884542.htm