PROTESTERS DELIVER STRONG MESSAGE
Zephaniah Thomas (right) was one of an estimated 3000 people who took to the streets of Cairns yesterday in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Police praised the behaviour of the protesters at the rally which went ahead despite COVID-19 restrictions.
UNDER the watchful eye of police perched on the roof of the Pacific Hotel, thousands of people took to the streets of the Cairns CBD yesterday to protest against black deaths in custody.
Meeting at Fogarty Park, the crowd heard from indigenous leaders including Peter Bumi Hyde and Terry O’Shane and protest organisers Serina O’Connor and Hermela Bealfan, representing the African-American community.
Despite the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk requesting people protest online rather than in large crowds contravening COVID social distancing laws, it’s estimated up to 3000 people took to the streets of Cairns.
From Fogarty Park demonstrators marched down Spence St chanting through megaphones and beating on electrical transformer boxes before turning into Aplin St
Inspector Monique Ralf, of the Cairns police, said although people were breaching COVID regulations, organisers had attempted to mitigate any threat.
She said while the crowd was well-behaved and there was no incidents, police had been forced to walk a line between upholding regulations from the Chief Medical Officer and allowing protesters the right to free speech.
“It’s definitely a balancing act but the positive comments we have had from people postmarch, I think it shows that they are very appreciative,” she said.
“We have had people come and thank us for not taking a heavy-handed approach and actively participating and hearing their voices.
“We showed that we tried to comply with the chosen directive and it’s very evident they were as well with their distancing out in the park.”
Yidinji elder Peter Bumi Hyde from Yarrabah said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to ongoing black deaths in custody.
“When we lost that fella in the United States of America that’s not right but we have a lot of deaths in custody in Australia too,” he said.
“That’s got to stop. I hope this shifts something now. This is a hurting thing.”
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