Dear Friend.
The School Strike 4 Climate Australia Network acknowledges that we organise and meet on stolen Aboriginal land and that sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise and extend our solidarity to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all people of colour who are reading this email.
Almost a month ago, we gathered in support of the #BlackLivesMatter protests across Australia. As protests highlighted the racial injustices across the US, it was our turn as Australians to reflect on our own prejudices. As we heard of the 432 Indigenous people who have died in custody since 1991*, we felt ashamed. We were angry for the lack of action. We knew that we could no longer stay silent.
Now, we’ve been given another opportunity to make our voices heard. We are yet to see the action that is required to stop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody. While we wait to create change, Aboriginal Peoples continue to die at infancy, die in custody, die decades before non-Indigenous Australians. We cannot wait any longer.
We’re writing again today to ask everyone in the School Strike 4 Climate Australia movement to again join us in calling for justice for First Nations communities in Australia. Indigenous Peoples are incarcerated at higher rates than non-Indigenous people - and face higher rates of death in prisons, often due to a lack of adequate medical care.**
Now is the time for us to act.
Here are two actions First Nations leaders and organisations have asked all of us to take:
ACTION 1. DONATE to campaigns from families seeking justice for loved ones who have died in police custody:
You can also make a regular donation to Indigenous-led organisations working for First Nations justice and climate justice. The #StopAdani movement has compiled a list on their website here.
ACTION 2. EDUCATE yourself and take ongoing action for systemic change:
This weekend, the following Stop Black Deaths in Custody National Weekend of Action protests have been organised by First Nations people in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement:
- KEMPSEY - Friday July 3, 3:30pm at Kempsey Riverside Park Facebook Event
- BRISBANE - Saturday July 4, 12pm at King George Square: Facebook Event
- DARWIN - Saturday July 4, 9am at Darwin Supreme Court
- ADELAIDE - Saturday July 4, 12pm at Tarndanyangga, Victoria Square Facebook Event
- PERTH - Saturday July 4, 12pm at Supreme Court Gardens: Facebook Event
- NEWCASTLE - Sunday July 5, 1pm at Civic Park: Facebook Event
- SYDNEY - Sunday July 5, 1pm at The Domain: Facebook Event
If you choose to attend a protest, please make sure you follow social distancing rules to keep everyone safe. Stay home if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms. Check out these tips for how to be safe while protesting during a pandemic.
There is no climate justice without First Nations justice and Racial Justice. Climate Justice means a world where everyone can live healthy, safe and fulfilled lives. This will never be possible while systemic racism means that Indigenous people are disproportionately locked up and killed in police custody, or while coal, oil and gas companies are allowed to violate the rights of First Nations people and destroy their country.
Racism, discrimination and police brutality have no place in our future. It’s up to all of us to listen, learn, take a stand and ask everyone we know to do the same - not just now, but forever. Solidarity is a lifelong mission. We hope you’ll join us on it.
In solidarity,
The School Strike 4 Climate team.
P.S. School Striker Dani has compiled educational, fundraising and supporter resources in this linktree: https://linktr.ee/BLM_indigenousjustice. Please share widely with your networks.
*'Deaths in our backyard': 432 Indigenous Australians have died in custody since 1991, The Guardian, 1 June 2020.
**Deaths inside: how we track Indigenous deaths in custody and why we do it, The Guardian, 12 June 2020.