I've experienced police violence myself. I've known other people who have experienced it. In my case I'm pretty white (mediteranean) and the others I know have copped it were white.
They only got covered because a white middle class doctor got hurt.
People who think the system will prosecute police are naive. The Integrity commissions are a scam. The onus is on victims to push hard for justice and when you don't have the resources nothing happens.
All I feel I can do is try and argue that we need proper oversight and real prosecution of police who commit crimes of assault and murder but I feel like I am arguing to the converted amongst those I know.
I'm going to admit I didn't know about Joyce Clarke until this article, and that both shames me and highlights the issue of getting the information out there. Deaths thousands of kilometres away with little to no reporting and a behind-closed-doors legal system makes it very difficult to even be aware of what is happening. Taking 2 US examples of Rodney King & George Floyd, it was the recording & public dissemination of the acts that triggered the responses. As you've pointed out, we have little evidence to show, and that makes it harder still. The violence may be normalised in a subset of our society, but don't write us all off just yet.
Great article. I’ve been looking for follow up articles of both cases but have found little. There has not been enough coverage. It’s a shameful truth that we haven’t mobilised in the same way to shout that Australia, we want no more deaths in custody.
It really is important to share this article. we have an obligation to mobilise the entire Australian community, to bear witness to black deaths in custody.
Thank you for reminding me of these 2 tragedies. I agree that such cases haven't received appropriate coverage, or the white outrage and support they deserved. Please keep us informed of the outcome. There may be more local white support for these 2 Aboriginal victims of police violence after this shocking case of George Floyd's cruel death. We must change the culture of police brutality towards Aboriginal people. Dallas
I care & I'm outraged that in this day & age people (white people) are so blind to these injustices. Why are we outraged about George Floyd but blind to black deaths in Aust.
Bear witness to what? I do not know circumstances surrounding the deaths you mention. We have a legal system to ultimately deal with such incidents especially when they involve police intervention. Whether the people involved are black, white or brindle there is a system of natural justice and with it burdens of proof. Most people do not understand how the system works and are very quick to jump to conclusions with very minimal information. There are many ramifications when the general public think they have a right to judge someone’s actions and the custodians of the system bend and flex to the knee jerk reactions of a few. The ultimate result is called anarchy and we are not far off even arrived now in meanopolis God help us as there is now not a decent soul on this earth that would in there right mind sign up to be s police officer anywhere. Sadly we still need them so the standards drop again and the spots get filled by sub par power seeking individuals that should have never been in law enforcement.
So to the bleating soft weak willed general public well done you are getting the police you deserve
These cases haven't had the same public profile as cases in US. That is the problem, we need to hear about them before we can react. Black lives matter to me, because all lives matter. 😥
Hear Hear Amy, Thank you for writing this. The treatment and comparable instances happening here is encapsulated perfectly, unequivocally accurate, and even being aware of all that is outlined in this article, still its sobering when reading it. We have no real business being invested in the domestic issues within another country while giving nothing to those same issues present in our own. For shame indeed.
Mark, may I suggest that you read journalist Chloe Hooper's book The thin man about the murder of an Aboriginal man on Thursday Island and how things transpired subsequently. It may afford you some better insight into the systemic racism and injustice within a broken system. Otherwise you may read the excellent and beautifully produced Finding the Heart of the Nation by Thomas Mayor which tells the story of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and some of the stories of Abroriginal people around Australia and the daily injustices and violences they have to deal with.
I've experienced police violence myself. I've known other people who have experienced it. In my case I'm pretty white (mediteranean) and the others I know have copped it were white.
And I know this country in a million ways treats black people and their culture and their rights as far less valuable than mine. So I don't feel any kind of surprise when I hear another story of what police have done to blackfellas including the stories in this article https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thrown-punched-in-the-head-doctor-who-tried-to-help-bleeding-man-claims-police-turned-on-her-20190121-p50sn0.html
They only got covered because a white middle class doctor got hurt.
People who think the system will prosecute police are naive. The Integrity commissions are a scam. The onus is on victims to push hard for justice and when you don't have the resources nothing happens.
All I feel I can do is try and argue that we need proper oversight and real prosecution of police who commit crimes of assault and murder but I feel like I am arguing to the converted amongst those I know.
I'm going to admit I didn't know about Joyce Clarke until this article, and that both shames me and highlights the issue of getting the information out there. Deaths thousands of kilometres away with little to no reporting and a behind-closed-doors legal system makes it very difficult to even be aware of what is happening. Taking 2 US examples of Rodney King & George Floyd, it was the recording & public dissemination of the acts that triggered the responses. As you've pointed out, we have little evidence to show, and that makes it harder still. The violence may be normalised in a subset of our society, but don't write us all off just yet.
Great article. I’ve been looking for follow up articles of both cases but have found little. There has not been enough coverage. It’s a shameful truth that we haven’t mobilised in the same way to shout that Australia, we want no more deaths in custody.
It really is important to share this article. we have an obligation to mobilise the entire Australian community, to bear witness to black deaths in custody.
Thank you for writing this! Such an important article.
Thank you for reminding me of these 2 tragedies. I agree that such cases haven't received appropriate coverage, or the white outrage and support they deserved. Please keep us informed of the outcome. There may be more local white support for these 2 Aboriginal victims of police violence after this shocking case of George Floyd's cruel death. We must change the culture of police brutality towards Aboriginal people. Dallas
I care & I'm outraged that in this day & age people (white people) are so blind to these injustices. Why are we outraged about George Floyd but blind to black deaths in Aust.
Bear witness to what? I do not know circumstances surrounding the deaths you mention. We have a legal system to ultimately deal with such incidents especially when they involve police intervention. Whether the people involved are black, white or brindle there is a system of natural justice and with it burdens of proof. Most people do not understand how the system works and are very quick to jump to conclusions with very minimal information. There are many ramifications when the general public think they have a right to judge someone’s actions and the custodians of the system bend and flex to the knee jerk reactions of a few. The ultimate result is called anarchy and we are not far off even arrived now in meanopolis God help us as there is now not a decent soul on this earth that would in there right mind sign up to be s police officer anywhere. Sadly we still need them so the standards drop again and the spots get filled by sub par power seeking individuals that should have never been in law enforcement.
So to the bleating soft weak willed general public well done you are getting the police you deserve
These cases haven't had the same public profile as cases in US. That is the problem, we need to hear about them before we can react. Black lives matter to me, because all lives matter. 😥
Thankyou for this information. I was not aware of any of this
Please share this with everyone.
🍀🙏🌈😍💚❇️
Hear Hear Amy, Thank you for writing this. The treatment and comparable instances happening here is encapsulated perfectly, unequivocally accurate, and even being aware of all that is outlined in this article, still its sobering when reading it. We have no real business being invested in the domestic issues within another country while giving nothing to those same issues present in our own. For shame indeed.
Maybe it is time for a riot here.
Thanks Amy, really good article. Hope you don't mind me posting this link here. https://www.prindlepost.org/2020/06/black-lives-matter-australia/
Mark, may I suggest that you read journalist Chloe Hooper's book The thin man about the murder of an Aboriginal man on Thursday Island and how things transpired subsequently. It may afford you some better insight into the systemic racism and injustice within a broken system. Otherwise you may read the excellent and beautifully produced Finding the Heart of the Nation by Thomas Mayor which tells the story of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and some of the stories of Abroriginal people around Australia and the daily injustices and violences they have to deal with.
Thank you Amy
Get a f'ing job and a life, political bullshit, we normal aussie people are over your snot!