Aboriginal rights on the agenda

By Chris Spindler

SYDNEY -- "Racism is what defines this country", said Jenny Munro, chairperson of the Metropolitan Lands Council. "Many in this country pretend that racism is not there, but as Aboriginal women we have never felt safe or secure as women, our children have never felt safe or secure, and it's because of racism."

Munro was speaking at a public meeting of more than 100 people at Redfern Town Hall on March 19, organised by the Campaign Against Racism.

Kevin Tory, from the Trade Union Committee for Aboriginal Rights, Lyle Munro, Aboriginal community activist, and Isabelle Coe from the tent embassy in Canberra also spoke on the topic "In defence of Aboriginal rights".

Tory linked the struggles of Aboriginal people to that of the trade unions: "John Howard is trying to destroy the trade union movement. If he's successful, the lot for Aboriginal people will be bad indeed ... the struggle won't be easy because Australia is rich in natural resources and the mining corporations want it ... but if we're not prepared to struggle, we're not prepared to win."

Lyle Munro showed how institutionalised racism is through the example of sport. He pointed out that Australia got the 2000 Olympics because of a better human rights record than China, but that this ignored the marginalisation as well as the dispersals, massacres and mistreatment of Aboriginal people. Munro made it clear that the Olympics would be used as a platform for protest.

Isabelle Coe said that the current situation for Aboriginal people exists because 10% of the population want to maintain their wealth. "If the government succeeds in breaking the Aboriginal people today, it will be the poor, unemployed and young tomorrow."

Discussion pointed out what people can do, including passing motions of support for the Aboriginal community at the Block in workplaces, universities and schools.

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