SYDNEY The following statement is being circulated by anti-racism activists for endorsement by individuals and organisations around Australia.
Those gathering for the assembly on September 15 at the Tent Embassy Peace Keeping Camp, Victoria Park, aim to hold a peaceful assembly. They will use the occasion of Sydney's hosting of the 2000 Olympics to highlight the struggle for justice and sovereignty for Indigenous people.
The central demands we seek to raise are:
1) a treaty and Aboriginal sovereignty;
2) overturn mandatory sentencing;
3) apologise and compensate the stolen generations; and
4) fund social justice, not the Olympics.
We will assemble at the Tent Embassy to stop the war on Aboriginal people. Our aim is to draw the world's attention to the appalling lack of human rights for Indigenous people in this country and ignite the struggle for justice. We assert our right to free speech and resist any attempts by the government to silence our dissent.
The right of Indigenous people to walk the land is as old as time immemorial. We show our commitment to the struggle for justice for Indigenous people and our support and solidarity with all organisations who are part of this struggle.
We call on all defenders of human rights to support and attend the rally at the Tent Embassy on September 15.
Signed (so far): Isobel Coe, Aboriginal Tent Embassy Peace Keeping Camp; Kevin Buzzacott, peacemaker, Walking the Land for Our Ancient Right, Lake Eyre to Sydney Peace Walk; Audrey Kinnear, co-chair, National Sorry Day Committee; Sol Bellar, chair, Aboriginal Medical Services, Redfern; Joel Bray, national convener, Indigenous Student's Network (ISN); Kim Bullimore, ISN; Yaluritja (Clarrie) Isaacs, Aboriginal Government of Australia; Ray Jackson, Indigenous Social Justice Association; Herb Simms, La Perouse Land Council; Valerie Fay Smith, Bundjalung elder; Dominic Kanak, Bondi Stadium Protest; Sam Watson, Indigenous author and film maker; Trevor Close, president United Githabul Tribal Nation Aboriginal Inc.; Jagama Yanner, administrator for Carpentaria Land Council; Jeremy Pyner, ACT Trades and Labor Council; John Percy, national secretary, Democratic Socialist Party; Lisa Macdonald, Green Left Weekly; Kerryn Williams, national coordinator, Resistance; Max Lane, chairperson, Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor; Lee Rhiannon, NSW Greens; Ian Cohen, NSW Greens; Marg Perrot, medical practitioner; Jim Green, anti-nuclear campaigner.
To add your support, phone Zanny Begg on 0425 209 375 or email <zannybegg@hotmail.com>.