Location: University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Building 1 (tower building), Level 4, room 6 (CB01.04.006)

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Join via Zoom here: https://zoom.uts.edu.au/j/88212384595

The acquittal of Constable Zachary Rolfe, charged with the murder of 19 year-old Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu in December 2019, was met with a wave of grief and anger from Warlpiri leaders and Aboriginal people across the country.

In a powerful press conference following the acquittal, family and community spokespeople condemned the injustice and racism embedded in a legal system that allows police to kill with impunity and demonizes victims and their communities.

A detailed statement of demands for structural reform have also come from Yuendumu in the wake of the trial, aligned with the global Black Lives Matter movement. This leads with a strong call to take guns away from police operating in remote communities, defund the police and redirect resources to community-controlled services, end racist NT Intervention control measures and respect Aboriginal law and self-determination.

In July, “Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory” laws which give police extraordinary powers on Aboriginal land and place a blanket ban on alcohol and pornography are set to expire, 15 years after being first introduced with the NT Intervention in 2007. But many other measures remain in place, self-determination is denied and huge budgets for police and prisons continue to expand while community-controlled programs struggle for funding.

Come along to this forum to hear from Warlpiri leader Ned Hargraves, who has acted as a key community spokesperson through the trial and its aftermath. Ned is building support for the statement of demands “Karrinjarla Muwajarri - we are calling for an immediate police ceasefire” you can view at karrinjarlamuwajarri.org

This forum will also hear from other Aboriginal families affected by deaths in custody. In the lead up to a day of action called for June 18, we will discuss the need to revive the protest movement that put thousands on the streets under the banner of Black Lives Matter in 2020.

Please share widely with your networks.

Warlpiri Elders from Yuendumu community condemn the NT Labor Government budget announcement today of ‘‘the biggest ever spend on police in the Territory’s history”, saying it will threaten the lives and safety of their people and community.

The $10.1 million package to deploy more police in NT communities and schools arrives after the acquittal of NT Police officer Zachary Rolfe who was charged with murder when he fatally shot and killed 19-year-old Walpiri teenager Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu three years ago.

Warlpiri Elders have launched a Karrinjarla Muwajarri/Ceasefire campaign today calling for NT police to be disarmed and for funding to be directed to self-determined Aboriginal governance instead of more police. An extensive statement of demands is attached and has been published at karrinjarlamuwajarri.org, along with a call for a National Day of Action on 18 June 2022. Senior Warlpiri Elder from Yuendumu, Mr. Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said,

"The NT government has no shame increasing the police budget after the fatal police shooting of our loved one, Kumanjayi Walker. This funding increase is a direct threat to our lives in our community. Yapakurlangu Warnkaru Matters, Black Lives Matter!”

This news arrives following a 2021 report by the Australian Institute of Criminology, with data showing there had been a 78% increase in fatal police shootings Australia-wide between 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

Mr Hargraves continued, “More funding for police means more police violence against our people. Karrinjarla muwajarri! This must stop! We demand a police ceasefire! No more police guns. The only safe way forward for our people is for our local First Nations authority to be empowered and for funding to go to our community controlled services".
Nick Espie, Legal Director of the Human Rights Law Centre said,
“The Human Rights Law Centre supports the Yuendumu community’s calls for action. The voices of Elders, families and community at Yuendumu, must be central to the next steps taken by Government in the journey towards healing and restoring the trust of Aboriginal people, and repairing the damage to our justice system. The Yuendumu community has started the conversation about what is needed to address the systemic injustices faced by Aboriginal people. Now it is time for action.”

On 22 April, Warlpiri Elders, supported by the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT, issued a letter to the NT Government requesting an urgent community cabinet meeting at Yuendumu. Chief Minister Gunner has not yet responded to the letter and Elders are now publicly demanding that he meet with them in Yuendumu as soon as possible.