Protest at Brisbane Women's Prison
By Sylvia Porter
BRISBANE — Twenty-five people picketed the Brisbane Women's Prison on March 20, protesting against the imprisonment of women for offences related to domestic violence.
The action was organised by "Women Born Free", a network of self-help groups for women who are currently in, or who have come from, abusive relationships. Women Born Free aims to build, through honest, mutual sharing, a "solid foundation for friendship, trust, empathy and support ... based on reinforcing positive personal skills ... high self-
esteem, communication and assertiveness".
Protest organiser Dierdre Doherty spoke of the women who are currently serving long sentences for killing their husbands after years of violent abuse by them.
One notable case is that of Wendy Lange, currently serving a life sentence for killing her husband. Lange, during her trial was nicknamed by the media "the Black Widow". Last year, Lange released a statement outlining the years of violence she and her children had faced from her husband.
The picket was chaired by Rita Miles and speakers were Dierdre Doherty and Vicky Ogilvie from Women Born Free and Susan Price, a Democratic Socialist candidate in the federal election.
A young woman at the picket, whose mother was killed by her abusive husband, told how in his trial no evidence could be brought forward about the long-term physical abuse her mother had suffered. Her father is currently serving only eight years in prison.
The picket ended in a walk to the rear of the prison with placards showing support for the women inside.