Black deaths protest

Wednesday, March 17, 1993 - 10:00

Black deaths protest

By Sean Pybus

HOBART — Groups including Support for Aboriginal Rights Tasmania (SART) gathered on March 2 at the opening ceremony of the state parliament.

SART had planned a three-day vigil to pressure the state government over its failure to implement the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The protests took the form of a continuous reading of the volumes of the royal commission report.

On the final day, SART displayed from the public gallery banners with the names of all the Aboriginal people who have died in custody. Parliament was adjourned for 15 minutes as a result. Meanwhile, the names were also written in chalk outside the front doors.

SART then continued the readings, but the speaker of the House ordered the protesters to leave the grounds by 2.30 p.m. in a letter saying "you have forfeited your right to continue to protest". Just after 2.30 the police arrived with a paddy wagon, so the protest moved into Salamanca Place, at the entrance to the parliament grounds.

From GLW issue 92