Paul Benedek, Brisbane
In the wake of horrific racist treatment of Indigenous people across Queensland, a rally against racism, police violence and black deaths in custody will be held on September 1. The action will put pressure on the hearing into the death of Cameron Doomadgee (Mulrinji) on Palm Island in November 2004, which sparked an uprising by the Palm Island community against the police force.
One hour after being arrested for “drunkenness”, Doomadgee was dead in the police watch-house, with four broken ribs, and a ruptured liver and spleen. Despite two Aboriginal men in the cells at the time stated that they saw Doomadgee being punched and beaten by senior sergeant Chris Hurley, the police maintain that Doomadgee “fell”.
The tragedy inflicted upon the Indigenous community did not end with the murder of Doomadgee. Soon after, Doomadgee's mother died, a victim of the stress of losing her son, then several weeks ago, Doomadgee’s only son, Eric, killed himself at the age of 18.
“Enough is enough”, Murri activist Sam Watson told a community meeting on August 23. “From John Pat being beaten so badly that his brains came out his ears when he was killed by police at age 16, to the tragedy on Palm Island, to the daily harassment of the Aboriginal community, it’s time we must take a stand”, he said.
Watson is standing as the Socialist Alliance candidate in the September 9 state election in Premier Peter Beattie’s seat of Brisbane Central. He, and all those at the meeting, hold the racist police and the government that defends them responsible for this unnecessary loss of life.
“In all this time, not one cop has ever been convicted for brutalising Aboriginal people”, Watson said. “It is a racist system that condemns so many Aboriginal people to inhumane treatment ... and not a shred of solidarity from the Beattie ALP government.”
When told about Watson’s decision to take on Beattie in the election, the meeting cheered its support. Everyone present added their name to the “Sign up for Sam Watson” call (see accompanying box).
Many people are commenting on the desperate need for a fighting alternative that confronts the issues that the major parties dodge, from stolen Aboriginal wages to homelessness. “I support Sam’s campaign because of his commitment to stopping war, because of his commitment to the Murri people, and because of his commitment to social justice and putting the interests of people over profit”, said Tristan Peach.
“Yes, with all my heart and soul I support Sam Watson”, said Anthony Plakias. “We need a change and now is the time. It’s for humanity and to build a better Queensland without the propaganda and lies that the Libs and Labor Party manufacture.”
The September 1 rally, which will be held at 1-3pm at Queens Park before marching to police headquarters and finishing in Musgrave Park, will also launch Watson’s election campaign. For more information and to get involved in the campaign, email <brisbane@socialist-alliance.org>, or phone Paul on 0410 629 088.
