This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
As the world grapples with police brutality, Australians and Europeans are taking to the streets to demand change. The protests, sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement, have drawn attention to the long history of oppression faced by Indigenous Australians.
"You're on our land," said Kaya Nicholson, a 17-year-old Indigenous organizer, emphasizing the importance of continued support for Indigenous Australians. "Don't just support Black Lives Matter because it's trending," she urged.
Meanwhile, African American resident Ron Baird drew parallels between Australia's troubles and the crisis in the United States, disputing Prime Minister Scott Morrison's suggestion that Australians were "importing" problems. "No Mr. Morrison, Australia is not the United States, but Australia does have its own long, dark, brutal past of oppression," Mr. Baird said.
Across the globe, protests against police brutality continue to gain momentum. In Britain, Health Minister Matt Hancock cited COVID-19 as a reason to discourage protesters from gathering, warning that the infection rate was increasing in certain regions.
However, the Metropolitan Police's deputy assistant commissioner, Laurence Taylor, deemed the planned demonstrations "unlawful" due to social distancing rules. Despite these challenges, the protests remain a powerful symbol of unity and solidarity in the face of oppression.
