Black Lives Matter Protest

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (15:26): The death of George Floyd reflects a broader problem in terms of the way black or brown people are treated by police in the US and around the world. It is not an isolated incident. Consensus is growing in relation to systemic racism and racial profiling. At a time of heightened stress because of the coronavirus pandemic, people flocked to the streets around the world to voice their concerns at the direction our society was taking. It was opportune. At a time of a health crisis, we should be addressing the need for change. We certainly cannot go back to the way things were.

At the Adelaide Black Lives Matter protest, the speeches highlighted that without unity and solidarity we cannot overcome race inequalities in Australia. Ella Russo spoke about her brother who died in custody in 2016 while being held on remand at the Yatala Labour Prison. She said:

People must know that Australia’s age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old. That is the age of my son. Children are being locked up and brutalised in prisons. Statistically, my son is more likely to be incarcerated than complete high school. Until revolt, and until white people see their power and revolt alongside us, there will be no future for our children that is safe, loving or lively.

The power within that protest was palpable. Fear, anger, sadness and frustration were present, but so was hope. As journalist Nicole Wedding accounts:

It was the first time in months that people gathered in such numbers, and you could glimpse as many smiles as you could tears.

The pandemic has restricted many activities, yet you cannot keep people isolated or withhold their voice indefinitely. These strict and authoritarian-like measures to fight the pandemic are also controlling people at an unprecedented level. This may be necessary in the short term, but the public has human rights and the public has a say.

Aunty Kerrie Doyle, Professor of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at Western Sydney University, said in regard to the protest:

…I support people who are going and I appreciate people standing up for our mob. Community infections are almost non-existent, really. Meanwhile, there’s not a day when Indigenous people aren’t targeted.

And she is correct. A report released from Flinders University found, 'compared to non-Indigenous patients with the same medical needs, Indigenous patients were about one-third less likely to receive appropriate medical care across all conditions.'

Listening to the voices of the Aboriginal community at the protests has reinforced that this is a battle for all of society. Black Lives Matter is not only a protest but a fight against injustice and inequality and a hope for humanity.