Black Lives Matter rally in Darwin pulls thousand-strong crowd
A thousand-strong crowd has marched through the streets of Darwin as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, in what could be the largest rally in the NT in nearly 20 years.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A THOUSAND-strong crowd has marched through the streets of Darwin as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, in what could be the largest rally in the NT in nearly 20 years.
Darwin’s rally comes a week after tens of thousands of people joined Black Lives Matter protests in other Australian capital cities, including Melbourne and Sydney.
The snaking crowd marched from Civic Park through Cavenagh St, Knuckey St then Smith St waving placards and chanting “too many coppers, not enough justice”, “always was, always will be Aboriginal land” and “no justice, no peace”.
MORE NEWS:
Commonwealth would save NT from going broke to save reputation’: Moodys ratings agency
Popular NT events return as COVID-19 restrictions ease
Uluru reopens to public from June 19 says Parks Australia
The Black Lives Matter movement has swept across the globe and found its voice in Australia after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police in America.
Those who addressed the crowd, mainly young First Nations women, spoke of how the oppression of Aboriginal people began when the First Fleet arrived and is yet to end.
“You’ve held our blood on your hands willingly. Since you stepped foot on our ancestral land and on our ancestral sand,” one of them said.
“We know who you are, no government of any sort, just an unlawful co-operation using us as slaves.
“Built an industry reliant on our pain and trauma, since the moment you tried to declare us flora and fauna.”
Larrakia Elder June Mills, who conducted a smoking ceremony before the march, took aim at Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s recent claim that slavery did not exist in Australia.
Mr Morrison has since apologised, saying he was referring specifically to African-American slavery.
About 62,000 Melanesian people were brought to Australia and enslaved to work in Queensland’s sugar plantations between 18963 and 1904, a practice referred to as “blackbirding”.
The Queensland regional town of Mackay continues to have the largest population of South Sea Islanders in that state today.
Kimberly Leach-Devery, who marched in Darwin today with her seven-year-old daughter Kiyesha, said the systemic oppression of First Nation’s people had been going on for too long.
“We’re here because we’re passionate about and want to make a change for our people,” she said.
“The system still exists, so I’m going to put a stop to it.”
There was no uniformed police presence at the rally in Darwin, though a couple of public health officers were spotted standing on a hill observing the crowd at the start.
Organiser Mililma May told the crowd another rally would be organised soon.
Vote for NT’s best sparky: See the top five
From replacing light bulbs to ensuring Territorians stay cool all year round, electricians make sure everything happens at the flick of a switch. Voting is open with 40 finalists vying for the title.
Home owner recounts frightening fire reality as danger period declared
A fire danger period has been declared in the wake of a 4500 sq km bushfire burning in the Barkly region, with one homeowner describing the ‘intense’ blaze that came within metres of his home.