Death in custody commemorated

Issue 

More than 200 Aboriginal activists and other supporters of justice for Indigenous people marched through Brisbane to commemorate the second anniversary of the death in custody of Palm Islander Mulrunji. A coroner's report found that Mulrunji was killed by Queensland police sergeant Chris Hurley.

Rally organiser Sam Watson called for a minute's silence "for our brother Mulrunji, and to think about every Aboriginal person who has died in custody, who needs justice". Alec Doomadgee, Mulrunji's cousin, spoke about the trauma his family has suffered, adding that more rallies were needed. "The people in power like us to forget about dead black people. We can't allow them to forget. We've got to keep rallying." Aboriginal activist Lionel Fogharty, Reverend Alex Gator and Eulalia Whitney from the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network also addressed the rally.

In Sydney, more than 30 activists rallied at the Town Hall to commemorate Mulrunji's murder. Speakers included koori rap artist and activist Jakalene X-treme, Ray Jackson from the Indigenous Social Justice Association, and Socialist Alliance activists Raul Bassi and Pip Hinman. Rallies were also held in Melbourne and other capital cities.

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