A 36-year-old Anaiwan Dunhutti man, Nathan Reynolds, died in 2018 gasping for air on a prison floor from an asthma attack after guards took an “unreasonably” long time to come to his aid.
The NSW deputy coroner Elizabeth Ryan said the “confused, uncoordinated and unreasonably delayed” response by prison guards and health staff deprived Reynolds of “at least some chance” of survival.
Reynolds’ family, who have waited almost three years for answers as to how and why he died – and, crucially, for somebody to be held responsible – heard the NSW deputy coroner give a brief summary of her findings on Thursday.
Job title: Federal Greens Senator for Victoria
Proudest achievement to date: Being an activist, a parliamentarian, and an active member of my community whilst raising three children.
What or who inspires you? I’m from a strong matriarchal line of powerful activist women. I am inspired, and draw my strength from my grandmothers, mother, aunties and sister.
Advice you would give young people following in your footsteps: My grandmother always told me, never forget where you come from and who you are. That means connection, culture and the struggle of resistance.
Do you have a favourite quote? “Always was Always will be Aboriginal Land!”
Protesters were told to use hand sanitiser frequently and wear face masks and most appeared to be doing so but social distancing proved difficult. The Aboriginal leader said there was a “deliberate ignorance” in Australia about the history of the land. “The British tried everything to eradicate us after their invasion but it didn’t work. “We want you to listen to our voice, and that is why I believe we are here today with so much support, wanting our voice to be heard and listened to and respected.” Following a minute of silence at 11.26am, two women with white ochre on their foreheads sang a mourning song while the crowd beat their chests in time with the clapping sticks.
Indigenous activist Uncle Gary Foley went to his first Invasion Day rally 51 years ago.
On Tuesday, as thousands of people gathered in drizzling rain in Melbourneâs CBD, Uncle Gary told the sea of black, red and yellow of one significant shift he had noticed in more than half a century of campaigning.
âWhat has changed, standing out here looking out at all of you mob, is that large numbers of ordinary Australians are out here with us,â he said.
Thousands of protesters march through the city on Tuesday.
Credit:Chris Hopkins
In the 1970s, a groundswell of protesters fought to raise awareness about the disproportionate number of Indigenous people incarcerated in Australia and dying in custody.
Volunteer crowd marshals will be trained to separate protesters into groups of 100 after almost 5000 people indicate interest in attending Melbourne’s Invasion Day rally on January 26.