Harawira, Turei Address Aboriginal Rights Mayday Protests

Friday, 1 May 2015, 2:54 pm
Article: Francis Cook

A protest took place today outside the Australian High Commission and Parliament against Tony Abbott’s policy to close down Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.

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Crowd makes its way through Thordon

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Roughly two hundred supporters turned up for the protest which began at the Katherine Mansfield Park then headed for the Australian High Commission where Dr Maria Bargh, political scientist at Victoria University, and Hone Harawira, leader of the MANA party, addressed the crowd.

The group then marched through the streets of Thordon to Parliament chanting “Tony Abbott you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide!” Green Party leader Metiria Turei, activist Pala Molisa, and Hone Harawira delivered speeches on the steps of Parliament.

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Turei addresses the crowd

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Protestors arrive at Parliament grounds

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Pala Molisa speaks outside Parliament

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Harawira jokes with the protestors

Abbott’s plan to shut down Aboriginal communities has been met with widespread outrage, and his recent statement that living in the communities was a “lifestyle choice” for Aboriginal peoples has been strongly derided by critics.

ENDS

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Francis Cook

Reporter

Francis studied History, gaining a first class honours in 2014. He is interested in politics, music and popular culture. His thesis looked at nuclear themes in Japanese film history.

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