UPDATE: on Friday, January 26th, 2007, the Queensland Attorney-General announced that S/Sgt Chris Hurley will be charged with manslaughter over the death of Mulrunji.
Mulrunji was an Aboriginal man, and he was killed by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley on Friday November 19th 2004 in a police cell on Palm Island, off Townsville on the north Queensland coast. A deputy coroner wrote a report that confirms S/Sgt Hurley was the one who killed Mulrunji.
At the moment, the Queensland Department of Public Prosecutions is deciding what to do.
This rally was called to demand that S/Sgt Hurley be charged.
UPDATE - on December 14, 2006, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, said S/Sgt Hurley will NOT BE CHARGED. There will be a rally in Queens Park again, at midday, on Wednesday December 20th, to demand that the Government should get rid of Ms Clare.
DECEMBER 21 - Click here for more information about the DPP's decision, and to see photos and reports from the December 20th rally. NOTE - this decision has been over-ruled by the January 26th decision mentioned above
Meanwhile, the head of the Police Union, Gary Wilkinson, has been summoned to Court to answer a charge of contempt, after he said the coroners report was a 'witch hunt'.
UPDATE: Received this email today, Thursday November 23rd:
Tena korua Sam & David
We are a Maori settler family resident in the Kulin Nations. I have been posting all about this issue at a younger freedom loving Maori site, to educate my own about the struggles of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.
http://www.aocafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3068&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Respect and regards
Ana
(BTW I haven't met Sam, I just support his work and voted for him)
You can click here to see a collection of pictures from the rally and march at Flickr.
Sam Watson, who organised the rally, arranging final details with a police Senior Sergeant.
Socialist Alternative Stall.
This man was displeased at the badge sellers, and angrily charged them with 'selling badges on our sorrow'. This badge-seller seemed unready for this. The man was quieted by some people who were with him.
Relaxing before the rally.
Resistance, Socialist Alliance and Venezuela Solidarity stall.
Resistance/Socialist Alliance placard.
Relaxing before the rally.
Communist League placard.
Sam Watson opened the rally, and was MC for the day. He talked about both legal and indigenous permission that had been given for the rally, and explained who would be speaking.
This is Sister Kate - I did not write down her surname. Sister Kate "thanked our warriors - that we have raised up young warriors to carry on the fight of our elders" and called for a minute's silence to remember all those who have died in custody.
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Press play to hear the speech.
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After the speech, Sister Kate prayed. Press play to hear the prayer.
Lionel Fogarty sang a farewell song.
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Press play to hear the song
Fogarty spoke about "the legislations in this country [which] have been...a fake and a provocation to the people of Australia", because people are "scared of Aboriginal people coming forward and exposing the fact of deaths in custody".
He also spoke about his brother Daniel Yock's "murder that was done in '93...those six coppers are sitting around drinking and smiling."
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Press play to hear the speech
Fogarty also read a poem.
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Press play to listen to the poem.
Tiga Bayles of 4AAA-FM - Murri Country records speeches, prayers, songs and poetry.
Alec Doomadgee, Mulrunji's brother, was the next to speak. He said he'd been asked if another rally was necessary:
"Of COURSE its necessary...we need to keep it fresh in their minds what they did, because they forget blackfellas real quick when they kill us".
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Press play to hear the first part of the speech.
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Doomadgee also reminded white listeners that "you white people get bossed around by coppers too". Press play to hear it.
Listening
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Doomadgee reminded people of other black deaths at the hands of police - Daniel Yock, TJ Hickey, "the list goes on". He demanded that the crowd "make sure they don't do it to you or your family...don't let someone else do it, YOU do it!". Press play to listen.
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Doomadgee said "I know Chris Hurley, I know he's a racist", and demanded to know "Why hasn't he been dragged through the courts like our brothers on Palm when they stood up for their rights...they're not rioters...they're warriors for the cause". Press play to listen.
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Doomadgee spoke about his dead brother: "I tell you now, Mulrunji he was a good man, and I miss him every day...we've lost three people out of my family in the last couple of years.". (Mulrunji's mother and son have both died since Mulrunji was killed). Press play to listen.
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Doomadgee finished by reminding people of what happened: "Mulrunji was necessary! He was an Aboriginal man that fought for who he believed in, and he died...he was murdered by a cop on a police cell."
"I don't want to live in a society where I am looked on as an inferior race, and I don't think I hope my kids will live in a society like that either." Press play to listen.
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Next up was Adrian Walker, who started with a prayer and a lesson: "And in terms of answering that prayer, you need to look to someone else other than the Government or the police to stop genocide because they are the perpertrators...Power only respects power". Press play to listen.
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Walker said that black people need to go back to their communities and start "policing the police" or "they will keep arresting you, putting you in jail, and killing you." Press play to listen.
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Walker reminded the crowd that "its the same for white people...they come for us today, they'll come for you tonight". Press play to listen.
The Casino Towers building looks over Queens Park. It is built on the site of the former Queensland Native Affairs Department, which was able to control the life of every Queensland aboriginal person up until 1971
Walker gazes at the Casino Towers building as he speaks
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Walker spoke angrily about how 'Genocide pays', and exhorted the listeners that "unless you take your destiny into your own hands and do it yourself, no-one else is going to do it". Press play to listen.
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Walker ended by once again demanding that people take up the resources that already exist - that Walker fought for - and start policing the police:
"There is a network...put two way radios in there and police the police - right now...Don't say it can't be done, we did it, and we put the police on their frigging ears. Every time they moved, we had at least two or three cars on them..."
"If you don't begin these beat patrols in earnest...they're going to keep killing you...Have a nice day because it is a nice day to die!" Press play to listen.
Listening.
I did not write down this speaker's name, but she came with a message from Aunty Margery Woodrow, who is from the Sovereign Aboriginal Government of Elders. She reminded the listeners that sovereignty over the lands that are now Australia was never ceded by the groups whose law ruled here before white settlement.
She also said that "more of our people are in jail than anyone anywhere". This is the number one unfinished business of the S.A.G.E.
At midday, there was a minute of silence in memory of Mulrunji, and all other black people killed in custody.
This man is called Paul, and he is from Palm Island. He said that Palm Island has 'never been the same' since Mulrunji's death, and "we have suffered long enough".
"We want justice in our communities...God knows what happens behind cell doors".
Paul said he would also tell the Doomadgees about the support they have on the mainland.
Watching.
Sister Kate spoke again, and told about how the flag she is holding had been signed by people who support justice for Mulrunji.
This speaker from the Venezuelan solidarity movement brought greetings from the Venezuelan charge d'affaires.
After the rally, the march left Queens Park and headed up George St, towards Adelaide St.
George St, just before the Queen Street Mall.
Adelaide St, just outside City Plaza.
Two-wheeled police at the corner of Adelaide St and Edward St. The police used at least three road bikes, two dirt bikes and one officer on a bicycle.
There were also two police patrol cars and two officers on foot.
Two-wheeled police deploy to stop traffic on Edward St entering the Adelaide St intersection.
Van of the march enters the Adelaide St/Edward St intersection
Corner of Adelaide St and Edward St.
Edward St and Elizabeth St.
Leaving Edward St, turning right onto Charlotte St.
Forward Scout - Motorbike police officer blocks off car park on left of picture as march heads up Charlotte St.
Marchers on Charlotte St, outside car park, approaching intersection of Albert St.
Outside Archives Fine Books, Charlotte St, approaching the corner of George St.
The march returned to Queens Park, and ended. There will be another march in early December to keep the pressure on the Government.
Map of the march route - Image from Google Earth.
Queens Park is marked with a star, and the numbers on the march route show where the photos were taken.
Click here to see the area in Google Maps (without any placemarks).
You can click here to see a collection of pictures from the rally and march at Flickr.
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Getting off the bus at the Gabba.
Ride that horse to victory! Australian and English fans in jockeys' silks.
