Black Lives Matter Rally - Naarm (Melbourne)

Systemic abuse of Black people isn’t just an issue in the USA. Australia was founded on it and the abuse continues today. Since 1991, 432 Indigenous people have died in police custody. Indigenous Australians are the most incarcerated people on earth - they make up 2% of the Australian population but 28% of the adult prison population.

As non indigenous Australians it is our responsibility to listen, educate ourselves and others, and dismantle the systemic oppression, racism and the continuing injustices against the Aboriginal people of this land. The issues are deep and widespread, not clear to see for those not experiencing the suffering; and often painful to look at as it takes an admission of ignorance and complicity.

All images shot by me.

Bourke St

West Papua is only a few hundred km off the coast of northern Australia. Closer than New Zealand. West Papuans are struggling for Independence from Indonesia, which has sent government forces to quell peaceful protests - reports of bombs dropping on houses, protestors being shot. Internet and media from the region is being suppressed.

Robbie Thorpe

Robbie spoke about the fight for justice from aboriginal deaths in custody - the same thing he was speaking about in Melbourne in 1988

Lidia Thorpe

The day of this rally - yesterday - another 40 year old Indigenous man in WA died in prison