Black Lives Matter Brisbane: Protesters descend on King George Square
Black Lives Matter protesters have confronted police at South Bank chanting ‘I can’t breathe’ and taping an Indigenous flag to the station as more than 30,000 people poured across Victoria Bridge following peaceful protests in King George Square.
QLD News
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Black Lives Matter rally organisers in Brisbane have vowed to take the march to the South Bank Police Station in South Brisbane.
They say they will stay at the station until the officer in charge exits the station and flies the Aboriginal flag.
Masses of protesters crossed the river at Victoria Bridge – many of which climbed on the bis station’s roof – as diners at Southbank restaurants and bars clapped and saluted as protesters moved through the street.
Earlier, thousands of people gathered in King George Square in Brisbane’s CBD, defying strict coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings.
Protesters swarmed police at South Brisbane police station before others from the rally stepped in to stop any violence. #blacklivesmatteraustralia @couriermail pic.twitter.com/7TnHAxXa2W
— Cloe Read (@cloe_read) June 6, 2020
The demonstration, organised by Warrior of the Aboriginal Resistance, is calling for justice for the lives of Aboriginals who have died or been brutalised at the hands of police.
A woman addressing the crowd said about 30,000 people were in attendance.
Many protesters are wearing face masks but others are gathered closely together after fears were raised that the mass gathering could increase the spread of COVID-19.
Protesters are holding signs that read ‘we see no change’ and ‘why should we perish for the colour of our skin?’.
It follows protests and demonstrations around the globe after the death of US man George Floyd, who was filmed begging for air as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck.
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One protester said they were here for all the “people who aren’t here”.
“It’s important to be here to show respect to our nation’s first people especially with the over 400 people who have died in custody,” another protester said.
One speaker addressed the crowd about disgraced police officer Chris Hurley while recounting the death of Cameron Doomadgee.
The crowd chanted “f--k the pigs” and “KKK” as calls were made for police to stop investigating their own in deaths in custody matters.
Brisbane mob I’m so proud of you
— Nathan Appo (@Elusive_Sausage) June 6, 2020
Always was always will be✊ðŸ¾
Allies thank you🖤
This is our fight...#IndigenousLivesMatter #AboriginalLivesMatter #blacklivesmatteraustralia pic.twitter.com/aH8I8yM0P3
on my way to a Brisbane BLM protest for our First People and to eradicate racism in all forms and show our support for those who have suffered at the hands of racism and police brutality
— BLACK LIVES MATTER ✊ðŸ¿âœŠðŸ¾âœŠðŸ½âœŠðŸ¼âœŠðŸ» (@mcthiqqness) June 6, 2020
Ngl im kinda scared if people start inciting violence
BRISBANE BLM PROTEST!
— ð˜¬ð˜ªð˜³ð˜¢ 👊ðŸ¿ðŸ‘ŠðŸ¾ðŸ‘ŠðŸ½BLM (@Kilea_x) June 6, 2020
I am attending! We have extra masks, hand sanitizer and basic first aid! If you need any of these PLEASE feel free to contact me!
Greens councillor Jonathan Sri said there are major concerns with the police system.
“It isn’t just about the deaths themselves, there’s also an ongoing pattern of racial profiling and unjustified police violence that’s overwhelmingly targeted against people of colour and the nation’s first people,” he said.
Brisbane protest organisers have briefly addressed the crowd saying the rally will stand in solidarity with those in other states where police are “cracking down” on activists.
Well-known Wangan and Jagalingou man Adrian Burragubba addressed the crowd with a 14-point plan for change.
He called for police to be compelled to speak out against corrupt policing if they see it.
Mr Burrugubba said Indigenous youths should also be released from custody.
“We don’t want the CMC, we don’t want coppers investigating coppers... that’s gotta stop,” he told the crowd.
Mr Burrugubba later said “all reported cases of racial profiling to be investigated” and investigators to be stood down.
The W&J man also called for officers who turn off body-worn camera to be stood down.
Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, who was the first Aboriginal woman elected to State Parliament in 2015, earlier today fended off questions from the media about whether allowing the rally to proceed was hypocritical at a time when the border was shut and restrictions remained on the number of people able to attend events from funerals to football matches.
“COVID-19 puts a lot of pressure on many of us,” Ms Enoch said.
“But that is a burden that we all have to bear.
“Particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the risk is really high.
“So of course those who have decided to participate today, the message is really clear, be very sensible, follow the rules, socially distance, stay within 20 people in terms of the groups that you are with and take every precaution.”
State Opposition leader Deb Frecklington described images of protestors flouting social distancing rules at the rally today as “heartbreaking” and called on the Government to enforce the COVID-19 rules “consistently and equally.”
“The substantial sacrifices Queenslanders have made could be for nothing if protesters ignore social distancing and the limits on gatherings,” she said.
“Watching protesters breaking the rules is heartbreaking for Queenslanders who have had to close businesses or those who have lost their jobs.
“People can support causes without breaking the rules.
“The Government needs to ensure the rules are enforced consistently and equally, otherwise public confidence will be eroded.
“The health and economic consequences of not following the coronavirus restrictions could be catastrophic.”
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