National protests have been called in response to the guilty verdict in the trial of Lex Wotton, announced this week.
The first national protest on Saturday November 1, aims to put pressure on the sentencing outcome. It will be a prelude to a national day of action on November 7, (the day of Lex Wotton’s sentencing) with actions across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and overseas.
Lex Wotton’s guilty verdict follows the 2007 acquittal of the policeman who was responsible for the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee, an Aboriginal man wwho was arrested for allegedly swearing at a policeman. He ended up dead 40 minutes later, with abdominal injuries so severe that his liver was split in two.
Lex Wotton is a community leader on Palm Island, and was charged with rioting and destruction. The charges came out of the destruction of the Palm Island police station, courthouse and Senior Sargent Chris Hurley’s residence, following a riot on Palm Island in 2004, in response to the announcement of a coroner’s finding of accidental death of an Aboriginal man in custody, Mulrunji Doomadgee.
The Wotton trial has focussed the need for further protest against victimising Aboriginal people on Palm Island, who have voiced protest at corruption and intimidation by the Queensland police force of members of the Palm Island community.
Messages of solidarity can be sent directly to Lex Wotton in jail in Townsville by emailing to: [email protected]
A complete account of the trial by can be found at the National Indigenous Times website: www.nit.com.au
video from Nov1 protest in Brisbane – warning sound is lound (& bad quality, but it captures the anger & militancy of the protest)
Protest Details:
Protests on November 1st to Free Lex Wotton
Brisbane
Rally & March
Free Lex Wotton
Jail Police who kill
Stop Black Deaths in Custody
12pm
Saturday November 1st
Queens park
cnr Elizabeth and George Sts, City
ph: 0401 227 443
Sydney
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO INJUSTICE ON PALM ISLAND
Murdering cops free while Aboriginal leader Lex Wotton convicted!
attacks
Speakout – 2pm Sat 1 Nov
Redfern Community Centre, Hugo StPanel of speakers will respond:
Gracelyn Smallwood – North Queensland Aboriginal activist
Lyall Munro – Redfern activist
Jenny Munro – Redfern activist
Nala Mansell – Tasmanian anti-Intervention activist
Jim Everett – Tasmanian activist
Pat Eatock – Aboriginal Rights Coalition
Organised by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC)
Melbourne
Emergency Rally: FREE LEX WOTTON! Jail Hurley and all killer cops!
Start:
1 Nov 2008 – 12:00pm
FREE LEX WOTTON!
Free all political prisoners!
Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody!
Jail Hurley and all killer cops!
Old GPO, Bourke St Mall
For more info:
Ph – 9388 0062 or 0419 53 84 25 or 0401 806 331
Initiated by the Indigenous Social Justice Association, Melbourne
International Day Of Action November 7th
Free Lex Wotton NOW
Rally Friday 7th November @ 1pm
Melbourne County Court
Cnr of William & Lonsdale Street
Melbourne
Bring banners, placards, chalk and noise-makers
contact [email protected] for more details
by Reita Mason & Chris Breen
Here are the details for the Sydney rally on November 7:
FREE LEX WOTTON!
Rally
Outside the Sydney District Court,
Downing Centre, 143-147 Liverpool St (cnr Elizabeth St), City
1pm, November 7*
*note that this is part of an International Day of Action called by Lex’s family members and coincides with the day that Lex Wotton is scheduled to have a sentencing hearing in Townsville.
For information call 0404 298 588 (Lyall & Jenny Munro, spokespeople for Lex Wotton)
There’s every reason for Lex and the people of Palm island to THIS time believe in positive outcomes of a stand against the Queensland government. Civil rights abuse in Australia is more than on the agenda now as staff who serve these very ordinary Aussies like Bligh and her current and former colleagues are fed up with a party over people attitude that has no place in the nation. We’re from the Tweed Region and will be in Brisbane or Sydney if needed. Howard was diabolical – Bligh and Spence are heinous.