Australian Black Lives Matter Rallies

In early June 2020 rallies were organised around Australia to protest Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and to stand in solidarity with the US uprising following the murder of George Floyd. These mobilisations were some of the first in-person protests since the commencement of Covid-19 physical distancing. The Commons librarians have gathered media related to the rallies to provide an educational case study of a significant movement moment. If you have additions to this article, including statements from organisers or interviews related to the organising of the events, please contact the Commons. The movement continues with major events planned around the country during the Stop Black Deaths in Custody national weekend of action, 4-5 July 2020.

National coverage

This video includes ABC News coverage of four rallies: Sydney (up to 3:18), Melbourne (3:18-6:25), Adelaide (6:25-9:44), Brisbane (9:44-close). ‘I can’t breathe’: Australia’s Black Lives Matter protests, photographs from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane (6 June 2020).

Naarrm/Melbourne

• Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance organised the Blak Lives Matter rally in Melbourne on Saturday 6 June 2020. Follow Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance on Facebook.
• Listen to How we organised Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter rally with one of the organisers, Dr Crystal McKinnon.
• Read Why we organised Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter rally by Tarneen Onus-Williams, Crystal McKinnon and Meriki Onus, The Saturday Paper, 13/06/20.
• Listen to the recording of 3CR’s live broadcast of the Melbourne Blak Lives Matter rally.

Boorloo/Perth

ABC News footage from the Perth rally on 13 June 2020.

• The rally was organised by Boorloo Justice, a grass-root community led organisation run by First Nations and POC youth that are campaigning the Black Lives Matter Movement in Western Australia. Follow Boorloo Justice on Facebook.
• Listen to an interview with two of the Perth rally organisers, Stephanie McGuire and Tanesha Bennell on RTR FM. They discuss the organisation of the first Perth rally (2 June)  and preparation for the second rally (13 June).
• Listen to the Law Matters program from 10 June including Aboriginal Legal Service of WA CEO Dennis Eggington, Dr. Hannah McGlade, Professor Ted Wilkes and Tanesha Bennell.
• Read Dr Hannah McGlade’s speech to the Black Lives Matter rally (13 June), published on NITV.

Sydney

The Guardian footage from the Sydney Black Lives Matter rally, 6 June 2020.

• The Sydney rally had a strong turnout despite government attempts to shut it down. Read details of the last minute appeal and an interview with the lawyers involved.
• The Sydney rally also experienced the most aggressive policing with a number of protesters kettled and capsicum sprayed at Central Station. Read What really happened at Central on the night of Black Lives Matter rally.

  If you have additions to this article, including statements from organisers or interviews related to the organising of the events, please contact the Commons. The movement continues with major events planned around the country during the Stop Black Deaths in Custody national weekend of action, 4-5 July 2020.