Sydney calls for justice for Cassius Turvey at Town Hall vigil

By CHRISTINE LAI

Thousands of people around the country attended vigils to honour the life of Noongar-Yamatji boy Cassius Turvey. Over 3000 people gathered at Sydney Town Hall to mourn. 

Cassius Turvey was a fifteen-year-old Indigenous boy who was walking home from school in Perth when he was allegedly beaten with a metal pole.  

His head injuries from the alleged attack resulted in him being placed in an induced coma after having two strokes and a brain bleed. Turvey died on October 23, 10 days after the alleged attack.  

Bundjalung Advocate for Human Rights Nessa Turnbull Roberts posted locations to Instagram for the National Day of Action.

Aboriginal children matter.
Across the many scared countries there are vigils being brought together from all communities showing up and showing love for Cassius Turvey. #justiceforcassiusturvey pic.twitter.com/4FbiwTqhiF

— Nessa Turnbull-Roberts (@TurnbullVanessa) October 31, 2022

In her caption, she addressed the anger towards the injustice of the murder that had been shared by Neighbouring countries and criticised the “racism entrenched in this country”.  

“[The] way systems continue to protect perpetrators; the way property seems to have more value over a life. The way that even after deep pain, the opportunity to grieve always seems so far because this system continues to perpetrate layers and layers of pain and violence”, Turnbull Roberts wrote.  

Cassius was “not in the wrong place at the wrong time… and this murder was in fact murder. Not grievous bodily harm. Not assault. Not manslaughter. Not abuse”. 

21-year-old man Jack Steven James Brearley has been charged with Cassius Turvey’s murder and will face court on November 9.  

Turvey’s mother condemns violence against Indigenous people   

A statement from Cassius Turvey’s mother, Mechelle Turvey, was read out at the Sydney vigil in Town Hall, where she called for an end to violence against Indigenous people.  

“I’m the only person who can get justice for my son. I am angry, Cassius’ friends and family are angry, but I don’t want any form of violence at any of these rallies in the name of my child. Violence breeds more violence”, she said via speakers from the Town Hall vigil. 

One of Cassius’ cousins, Sister Narelle, gave an emotional speech about the death of Cassius and how it “shouldn’t take for Cassius to be related to someone you know to feel grief.”  

 Narelle spoke about the need to have collective humanity and called for more humanity to be shown across mainstream media.  

 “Why are those comments more meaningful when the masses see it on our social media? We are here because we are connected by collective grief. We are an example of the change and the future that we want,” she said. 

 The fight for First Nations justice continues  

 Wiradjuri highschooler and School Strike 4 Climate spokesperson Ethan Lyons wore his school uniform and told the crowd, “every struggle here is a black struggle”.  

 Lyons described the need to remind the nation that there were many school kids like himself who are “still young and full of life” in the continual fight for black justice.  

 He condemned the ongoing racism and white-colonial history of Australia, stating that instances of discrimination could be seen “here in our schools and locker rooms; casual jokes lay the foundation for our racist society.”  

“Young women are going missing, the news of Cassius’ death created huge ripples in our communities, and First Nations people don’t feel safe unless we are constantly fighting.  

 Vigil attendees lit candles and held them up high throughout the evening during the commemoration of Cassius’ life.  

Uncle David Bell reflected on Australian history prior to 1967 where Aboriginal people were denied the right to vote and had not been considered members of the Australian population, instead labelled ‘flora and fauna’. He mentioned key figures of Indigenous history including William Cooper and Charles Perkins as “legends that fought for all of our rights to what we are today.” 

Indigenous woman Shanaya Donavan voiced the urge to go home to get her year 12 jersey from last year because she “almost felt like I had to remind myself it could’ve been me.”  

“When will our uncles stop being incarcerated and killed in custody? Every week every month we’re out here asking for justice. We shouldn’t have to beg and plead to not be killed on our own country”, Donovan said.  

Events were also held in the United States and New Zealand to honour Cassius’ life and the continual fight for First Nations justice.