'No justice, no peace': Thousands pack Melbourne's CBD for Black Lives Matter rally - The Age

More than 400 Aboriginal people are known to have died in police custody since 1991.

The Melbourne crowd let out a roar of applause when it heard the NSW Court of Appeal had authorised a simultaneous rally in Sydney, which had earlier been refused approval.

Thousands of protesters in Melbourne's CBD.Credit:Joe Armao

Wurundjeri woman Mandy Nicholson said Australians needed to understand that systemic discrimination resulting in police killings of people because of their race was not just happening in the United States, but also in Australia.

"Our young men are saying 'I can't breathe', 'I can't breathe' and they die," Ms Nicholson said.

One speaker remarked that it took the death of an African American man to put the spotlight on the deaths of Indigenous Australians.

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The Wurundjeri leaders, whose native land is Melbourne, painted white ochre across their foreheads as a sign of mourning.

"We all bleed red because we are human," one speaker who addressed the crowd said.

Mia Allen said it was important for her to attend the rally to show she opposes Aboriginal deaths in custody.

"I have a responsibility to use my power and privilege to address racial violence committed by the Australian state," Ms Allen said.

Teachers Tim and Andrea attended the march with their children Poppy, Daisy and Harry to teach them that change "starts in your own backyard".

"Australia's history is not that good and we want to do something about the future," Amber said.

Teachers Tim and Andrea with their children.Credit:Zach Hope

Tim said he wanted his children to understand they live a privileged life, while many Australians do not.

Ezi Osman, an East African woman, who has lived in Australia for 30 years, was also at the rally with her children. "It's important for them to know how to stand up for themselves," said she.

"When they hear something in the news that isn't fair they know there's something they can do."

Ezi Osman at Melbourne's Black Lives Matter protest with her family. Credit:Rachael Dexter

Social distancing was nearly impossible in the large crowd, as thousands of protesters marched shoulder-to-shoulder from Parliament House on Spring Street, down Bourke Street.

But organisers of the Melbourne CBD protest, Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, were resolute in their plans to show solidarity for the US Black Lives Matter movement.

"Protest is not a choice when so many of our people are murdered at the hands of police and prison guards," WAR organiser Meriki Onus said on Friday.

Protesters in Melbourne.Credit:Joe Armao

CBD resident and protester Sam Ross described the rally as "beautiful, kind, compassionate, caring, peaceful and moving".

"You couldn't have asked for a better protest," the 26-year-old said. "Which is really what we need."

Protesters held signed with slogans such as "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and "tolerating racism is racism".

Victoria Police have warned rally organisers they could be fined $1651 for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, as well as any individual.

One COVID-19-positive person at the Saturday afternoon mass gathering could be all it takes to squander the gains made, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned earlier this week.

Community transmission is down to extremely low levels but the numbers at the rally increase the risk.

with AAP

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMikAFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL25vLWp1c3RpY2Utbm8tcGVhY2UtdGhvdXNhbmRzLXBhY2stbWVsYm91cm5lLXMtY2JkLWZvci1ibGFjay1saXZlcy1tYXR0ZXItcmFsbHktMjAyMDA2MDYtcDU1MDV2Lmh0bWzSAZABaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAudGhlYWdlLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC92aWN0b3JpYS9uby1qdXN0aWNlLW5vLXBlYWNlLXRob3VzYW5kcy1wYWNrLW1lbGJvdXJuZS1zLWNiZC1mb3ItYmxhY2stbGl2ZXMtbWF0dGVyLXJhbGx5LTIwMjAwNjA2LXA1NTA1di5odG1s?oc=5

2020-06-06 07:37:29Z
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