First Nations advocates gather in Sydney against Indigenous deaths in custody

By JUSTIN COOPER

Trigger Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of an Indigenous people who have died.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Sydney over the weekend in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, calling for the end of police brutality against Indigenous people.

On Saturday, protesters gathered at Sydney Town Hall to reignite action against the sustained mistreatment of Indigenous people by Australian law enforcement and health care systems.

Furthermore, advocates have called upon the Federal Government to implement all recommendations from the 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

“We want justice and accountability now”

The rally was organised by the Sydney University’s Autonomous Collective Against Racism, and were joined by multiple First Nation advocacy groups and individuals.

Organiser and advocate, Ethan Lyons, spoke out on providing better support and protections for Indigenous youth.

In a statement prior to the event, Lyons says, “First Nations young people deserve to leave the house in the morning without their families worried if they will come home at the end of the day.”

“We deserve to be curious, creative and live out our youth, just as any other young person, without being threatened by police and correctional services.”

Lyons also criticised the impact of “climate devastation” as being a significant cause to the loss of Indigenous cultural heritage and practices.

“Not only are we forced to face the physical impacts caused by the destruction of Country, but also the intense spiritual, social and cultural turmoil associated with this loss,” he continued.

First Nations advocate, Paul Silva, spoke out against the lack of dignity given to Indigenous people in custody and called for police officers to be held accountable.

“There is never any accountability. Hold the corrective services accountable, hold the doctors and nurses accountable,” said Silva.

Calling out systemic challenges, Silva questions, “Where are the good cops keeping the bad cops accountable? There aren’t any because they fall under the blue line.”

Silva’s uncle and Dunghutti man, David Dungay Jr, was killed in 2015 following 5 police officers restraining and injecting a sedative while in custody.

Silva continues to push for an independent investigation for Indigenous deaths in custody, saying “we want justice and accountability now.”

Calls for Healthcare inquest

Along with law enforcement and correctional services, many spoke out regarding the lack of accountability from healthcare systems involved with Indigenous deaths.

At the rally, the family of Kamilaroi-Dunghutti man, Ricky “Dougie” Hampson Junior, called for better support for Indigenous communities within healthcare systems.

In August 2021, Hampson Junior died from perforated stomach ulcers shortly after being discharged from a Dubbo hospital who allegedly accused him of being high.

His father, Ricky Hampson Senior, spoke at the rally saying, “This health system is killing us too and not many people are talking about it.”

“They [colonisers] have faded our skin but they won’t fade what’s inside here,” said Hampson Senior whilst tapping his heart.

The family are advocating for systematic change within the industry, including Aboriginal liaison officers and greater education measures for staff to provide culturally appropriate care.

The protest is the first community action BLM rally this year, and continues to recall stronger support to Indigenous people made by the initial protest held in 2020.

Thirty years have passed since the initial Royal Commission ended in 1991. Community group are expected to continue protesting for justice and accountability to be held for the Indigenous deaths in custody.