Here at the Naarm rally in memory of Kumanjayi Walker. People are standing in solidarity with the Warlpiri community & demanding justice for the killing of Aboriginal people in police custody #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

Walker is the 2nd death in 2 months. Police have killed 420+ Aboriginal people in the last 30 years, almost 20 since August 2018. No police officer has ever been held responsible for the death of an Aboriginal person in their custody

Since the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody in 1991 only 2/3s of the recommendations have been fully implemented. The rate of Indigenous incarceration (disproportionately Aboriginal women) has doubled in that time

Warlpiri Elders & Yuendumu community are calling for:

— An independent investigation into Kumanjayi Walker’s killing. Police must not investigate police, they must be held to account

— Footage from the arrest & Yuendumu station. Police should have had their bodycams switched on

— No police in Yuendumu for now and alternative approaches to racist, violent policing

— Accessible and culturally safe medical services with Aboriginal oversight inc a 24 hour medical clinic

— Funding for the funeral and sorry business

The rally is underway with some chants: “No justice, no peace, no racist police” & “Always was, always will be Aboriginal land” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

More chants: “Too many cops, not enough justice!”. It’s hard to get a picture with everyone in it but I’d guess that there’s 1-2k people here in Naarm #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu

Organisers are helping direct trams while police direct traffic. Uniformed cops are being careful to keep their distance (difficult to count but seems fewer than an anti-detention or anti-fascist rally)

One or two of passers-by shouting in anger (at the inconvenience??). I think I heard one person shout “go climb Ayers Rock [sic]”. What’s wrong with people?

One of the speakers is reading a prepared statement from community: “They shot him and took away the health workers. Why three shots? We want justice and we want answers!” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

Another prepared statement from community: “I wake up in the night, I can’t sleep. What have the police done to us?” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

(I apologise that I’m not naming the community members, unfortunately the physical speakers don’t reach up the back and it’s hard to hear over background noise)

A speaker is reading a list of community demands (see earlier in the thread), thanking people for sticking it out in the rain. March to Parliament House is about to start

March is just getting underway. Always was, always will, be Aboriginal land

Marching up Bourke St now, crowd stretches as far as I can see. Too many coppers, not enough justice! #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

“No justice, no peace, no racist police!” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

The March has stopped outside the cop station on Bourke, chanting “They say justice, we say murder” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

Organisers are using police tape to seperate the cops from the marchers. Placards have come to the front, people are booing and crying “Shame!” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

Tense situation, the cops are keeping calm for now, crowd peacefully chanting #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

Skies have cleared in Naarm just as the march is reaching Parliament. Voices are hoarse from chanting but there’s so much energy #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

“What do we want? Justice for Walker! When do we want it? Now!” #JusticeForWalker #BlackLivesMatter

The march in Naarm has reached the steps of Parliament and April Day, Tanya Day’s daughter, is speaking: “I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been up here talking about straight up murder”

#JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

“We’ve gone through the coronial process, we’ve waited two years for them to give us nothing. Yuendumu can’t wait two years. We need an independent investigation, police can’t investigate police” #JusticeForWalker #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter

What an end to today: just a few hours after people around the country marched for #JusticeForWalker, the police officer who killed him has been charged with murder #IstandwithYuendumu #BlackLivesMatter   https://twitter.com/sowaibahh/status/1194552319188189184?s=21