Tomorrow, 10 June 6pm online and in person forum: “Ceasefire - no police guns in our communities”, Warlpiri leader speaks out after Rolfe acquittal
Sabine Kacha
Good Morning,
You’re invited to a public forum supporting the calls of Warlpiri for a police ceasefire in Yuendumu. Hosted by Jumbunna Research - UTS, supported by National Justice Project and the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney.
Speakers include: Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves (Yuendumu, NT), Lizzie Jarrett (NSW), Latoya Aroha Rule (SA/ NSW)
When: Friday June 10, 6pm
Location: University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Building 1 (tower building), Level 4, room 6 (CB01.04.006)
Or
Join via Zoom https://zoom.uts.edu.au/j/88212384595
The acquittal of Constable Zachary Rolfe, charged with the murder of 19 year-old Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu in December 2019, was met with a wave of grief and anger from Warlpiri leaders and Aboriginal people across the country.
In a powerful press conference following the acquittal, family and community spokespeople condemned the injustice and racism embedded in a legal system that allows police to kill with impunity and demonizes victims and their communities.
A detailed statement of demands for structural reform have also come from Yuendumu in the wake of the trial, aligned with the global Black Lives Matter movement. This leads with a strong call to take guns away from police operating in remote communities, defund the police and redirect resources to community-controlled services, end racist NT Intervention control measures and respect Aboriginal law and self-determination.
In July, “Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory” laws which give police extraordinary powers on Aboriginal land and place a blanket ban on alcohol and pornography are set to expire, 15 years after being first introduced with the NT Intervention in 2007. But many other measures remain in place, self-determination is denied and huge budgets for police and prisons continue to expand while community-controlled programs struggle for funding.
Come along to this forum to hear from Warlpiri leader Ned Hargraves, who has acted as a key community spokesperson through the trial and its aftermath. Ned is building support for the statement of demands “Karrinjarla Muwajarri - we are calling for an immediate police ceasefire” you can view at karrinjarlamuwajarri.org
This forum will also hear from other Aboriginal families affected by deaths in custody. In the lead up to a day of action called for June 18, we will discuss the need to revive the protest movement that put thousands on the streets under the banner of Black Lives Matter in 2020.
Please share widely with your networks.
In solidarity,
Latoya Aroha Rule
Research Associate & PhD Candidate
Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
University of Technology Sydney
T. +61 (02) 9514 1162
PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
uts.edu.au
I work part-time and may take some time to respond to your email.
I acknowledge the Tangata Whenua (people of the land), the Gadigal people, on whose land I reside. I acknowledge and respect their connection to
country, their ongoing practice of language and culture, and that their sovereignty has never been ceded.
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