Rally a call for action Spotlight on deaths in custody
ORGANISERS of today’s Townsville Black Lives Matter Rally have urged the entire community to get behind their cause.
Today’s peaceful rally, which had earlier been cancelled, will now go ahead at Strand Park from 10am.
“We want everyone in our community to participate, we want all Australian to join us and stand together,” rally organiser Florence Onus said.
“The protests in the USA have put the spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement, and we just want to bring the spotlight back to Australia and our community.
“We have had too many black deaths in custody … these are real people who we lost. They were brothers, fathers, loved ones.”
Black Lives Matter protests are being held across Australia as a result of the protests gripping America, which started following the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, an African-american, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street.
Black Lives Matter protests have already been held in Sydney, where hundreds of people marched against Indigenous deaths in custody in Australia.
Ms Onus said today’s rally would adhere to COVID-19 restrictions, and include a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this week said
Australians should be able to express themselves despite COVID-19 restrictions.
“But at the same time people have got to exercise responsibility,” he said.
“And at the same time, you know, we shouldn’t be importing the things that are happening overseas tralia.
“I’m not saying we don’t have issues in this space that we need to deal with but the thing is we are dealing with it.
“We should be Australians about this and deal with it our way and we are.” to Aus