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SOURCE: The first one thousand yellow wristbands (pictured below) in support of justice for death in custody victim Mulrunji Doomadgee have been sold out, less than a week after being produced.
The yellow bands, inscribed with the date of Mulrunji's passing and the words "Justice Now!", are a direct response to the blue wristbands that police are wearing in support of Snr-Sgt Chris Hurley, currently facing trial for the manslaughter of Mulrunji in the Palm Island watch-house.
"We have received orders from Palm Island to Canberra to Hobart and Perth," said Sam Watson, Socialist Alliance Indigenous spokesperson and Aboriginal activist who initiated the 'justice' bands. "People are angered that police are wearing the blue bands in support of an officer who took Mulrunji into custody, where less than an hour later he lay dead with four broken ribs and a liver split in two. It is offensive that the Police Union, who distributed the wristbands, seem to believe their members should not face the same system of justice as the rest of the community."
Watson is particularly scathing that, despite assurances from Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, that "common sense and discretion should be applied by individuals" wearing the blue wristbands, there were police officers wearing the blue bands at the Indigenous Dreaming Festival held last weekend.
"This is one of the few times when Aboriginal people can feel empowered and respected, yet we were subjected to uniformed police visibly supporting an officer on trial for the manslaughter of an Aboriginal person - that is offensive and unacceptable," said Watson, who has been preselected as the lead Queensland senate candidate for Socialist Alliance at the next Federal Election. Hundreds of the yellow justice bands were sold at the Dreaming Festival.
A thousand more bands have been ordered to continue the visible call for justice.
Hurley is the first officer to ever be charged over an Aboriginal death in custody in Queensland.
For information or interview, phone Sam Watson 0401 227 443 or Paul Benedek 0410 629 088
