"There are two systems of justice in Queensland: one to protect the police service, and another to crush Aboriginal people," Sam Watson, Murri community leader, told a rally outside State Parliament in Brisbane on March 23.
More than 50 people gathered to protest the decision of the Queensland Police Service and the Criminal Misconduct Commission (CMC) not to lay any charges against six police officers involved in the cover-up of the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee in November 2004 on Palm Island.
The rally was called around the demands: "No more deaths in custody. Justice for Mulrunji Doomadgee. Justice for all victims of watchhouse murders. The CMC has sold us out. The police have to be held to account and Do we need another Royal Commission?”
"If the CMC and Queensland Parliament thinks this is the end of the matter, they're wrong," Watson said.
"[Senior Sergeant] Chris Hurley must be charged again, this time before a fair judge and jury. Until a police officer is actually convicted of a crime, the police have a licence to terrorise, brutalise and kill Aboriginal people in this state.
"We must mount a political campaign to have Chris Hurley charged again and convicted," Watson added.
Other speakers condemned the system, which allows police to operate with impunity, and called for full self-determination for the Aboriginal people of Australia.
Chairperson Reverend Alex Gator said, “They might have won the battle, but we will win the war.”