Community gathers for Black Lives Matter Rally at The Strand

Today’s Black Lives Matter Rally in Townsville is underway at The Strand, though a local MP has called on people to ‘stay home’ as American university student calls for unity.

A moving scene from the Black lives Matter tribute in Townsville.

12pm: The Black Lives Matter Rally in Townsville has now wrapped up, with the large crowd beginning to head home.

Plenty of great speeches were read from the likes of Ashley Saltner, Michelle Deschong and young indigenous locals, with the crowd applauding and cheering.

A welcome to country, smoking ceremony, learn to dance session and story sharing were also held during the morning at Strand Park.

The 500-strong crowd was filled with people of all ages and backgrounds, with no police presence required during the peaceful rally.

10.30am: A James Cook University student from America has spoken of how proud she is to see the Black Lives Matter movement reach Australia.

Mina Hatayama may be on the other side of the world, but she told the Townsville Bulletin the movement was just as important Down Under.

“The Black Lives Matter movement in America started in 2014 and that was six years ago and nothing’s happened,” Miss Hatayama said.

“It was a huge movement but it kind of fizzled out. This was just the tipping point again and especially in Australia.

“Somebody was just saying someone said “why are you doing stuff in Australia? It’s an American thing,” but it’s an everybody thing.

Indigenous men perform a smoking ceremony at the Black Lives Matter Rally in Townsville.

“The United States kind of has the focus of the world right now but there’s a lot of injustice here. It’s just not as well publicised.

“We’re just here showing support for America and for the Indigenous people of Australia.”

Miss Hatayama called on world leaders to stand up and make a change.

“Ideally we’d love to see a system that was built on oppression dismantled and started again, because it’s not the people it’s the system.

“In reality it would be great if elected leaders could acknowledge the floors of the system instead of just perpetuating what’s going on.

“Social injustice has occurred forever, everywhere.

“As soon as we stop thinking of it as country by country and more just like people the more progress can happen.”

The crowd listens to a speech at the Black Lives Matter Rally in Townsville.

10am: The crowd is beginning to build at Strand Park for today’s Black Lives Matter Rally.

Attendants so far are remaining socially distanced as required by current restrictions due to COVID-19.

Organiser Florence Onus told the Townsville Bulletin yesterday they wanted everyone to be involved in the rally.

“We want everyone in our community to participate, we want all Australian to join us and stand together,” Ms 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.”

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto encouraged locals to ‘stay home’ on Saturday morning before the rally.

The crowd is beginning to build for today's Black lives Matter Rally at Strand Park.

“If you’re considering partaking in a protest today, remember you will likely be a part of the group that will do 2 things,” Mr Dametto posted on Facebook.

“1. Divide our community at a time when we should be working together.

“2. Potentially ruin all of the good work Queenslanders have done to flatten the curve.

“Be smart, stay home and why not protest your point from your driveway?

“If it was a good enough way to remember our Anzac’s it should be good enough to make your point.”

The crowd is beginning to build for today's Black lives Matter Rally at Strand Park.

Originally published as Community gathers for Black Lives Matter Rally at The Strand