Vigils for Cassius Turvey confront racism
Thousands take to the streets in memory of Cassius Turvey, the 15-year-old Indigenous boy killed in what many believe was a racially motivated attack.
From Perth to Los Angeles, thousands of people have taken to the streets in memory of Cassius Turvey: the 15-year-old Aboriginal boy killed in what many believe was a racially motivated attack.
His grief-stricken mother Mechelle Turvey urged those at a massive gathering in the heart of the Perth CBD – one of 44 such events scheduled to take place around Australia and beyond – to channel their energy not into violence but into celebrating her son’s life.
Supported by family and friends including Emily Farmer, whose son was also allegedly assaulted in the same attack that killed Cassius, Ms Turvey said her son was inspiring her to stand up.
“My boy speaks to me every day through my heart. He tells me what I need to do,” she said.
Wednesday’s rally came as WA police commissioner Col Blanch – whose early comments downplaying the apparent racial elements of the attack sparked a community anger that was still strong at the Perth event – flagged that police were continuing to examine whether to lay more charges in relation to the incident.
Cassius and three of his teenage friends were still in their school uniforms and had just got off a bus when they were attacked one Thursday afternoon last month. The boys have described how passengers in a car being driven by a woman yelled racial slurs at them before the vehicle stopped and the passengers emerged brandishing weapons.
One of those passengers, 21-year-old Jack Brearley, allegedly beat Cassius and another boy with a metal pole. He has been charged with murder, as well as stealing and assault.
Among those to speak at the Perth event was former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley, who had met Cassius at a community program before his death.
“All are joining us today to mourn Cassius, to comfort his family, and to hug and love each other as human beings,” she said.
“The life of a child is sacred. The death of a child is a tragedy.”
Professor Stanley said Cassius’ death was a reminder that racism was endemic in Australia and was evident in the divergent outcomes for Indigenous people in areas like health care, education, justice and child protection.
She used the event to issue a rallying call for the Indigenous voice referendum, which she said could give Indigenous people a greater say over their own destinies.
“We want those in power to listen to our First Nations brothers and sisters. They know what to do to keep kids strong, healthy and on track for a successful adulthood,” she said.
To date, neither the other passengers in the car nor the driver – who The Australian revealed last week was out on bail over multiple assault charges relating to another incident – have been charged.
But Mr Blanch told radio station 6PR that police were continuing to investigate.
“We are exploring all options for charges, we are working closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions, we will continue this investigation and we are throwing everything we have at it,” he said.
The Perth rally was echoed in other state capitals and regional centres across the country, as well as in events scheduled for New Zealand and the US.
Class mates and family members remembered Cassius as a “beautiful soul” and natural-born leader with ambition and drive.
Pat Dudgeon, the first Aboriginal psychologist to graduate in Australia, told the Perth rally that Cassius’ death had touched Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across Australia and praised the strength and fortitude of Cassius’ family.
“We could build a nation where all children are valued and loved and treated equally,” she said.
Indigenous leader Mervyn Eades told The Australian that Cassius’ death had resonated with people across the country.
“It is a national movement because it’s a child and we all have children. It hurts, as a community it hurts,” he said. “We all have children, we all understand what the family and friends are feeling.”
In a statement posted on social media, Ms Turvey said that while her and her family were angry, she did not want to see any form of violence at any of the rallies.
“Violence breeds violence, I want calm and peace,” she said.
“I don’t want to fuel prejudices, biases. I don’t want to fuel the stereotypes of First Nations people as violent.”
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