Widjabul Wybal woman Cindy Roberts calls the people of Lismore to stand in solidarity with Aboriginal people and the rest of the world - and speak out about injustice and racism.

“This Saturday, we are safely protesting in solidarity on Widjabul Wybal soil to support the uprising in the USA and against the murders of Aboriginal people through black deaths in custody," Cindy said.

“Lismore is the meeting place of the tribes, and we hope to see people come along to a Black Lives Matter protest at Spinks Park at 12.30pm - and stand up to stop the racism,” Cindy said.

The local peaceful protest comes after a week of protests around Australia and the world - triggered by the viral sharing of video showing the brutal death of George Floyd, 46 - an African-American man killed by police in Minneapolis on Monday.

Cindy said the continuing police brutality against African Americans highlighted the injustice continually faced by Indigenous Australians.

While the police officers involved in the incident in America have been charged with murder, Cindy said that was just to “silence the masses” and that Australia has an even bigger problem.  

“We’ve seen the same thing too many times in this country – and the perpetrators have walked free. That’s not justice,” she said.

“You’ve got good and bad cops and prison officers, and we need the good ones to stand up against the bad ones, and speak out. 

“Aboriginal people make up 3% of the population, but 30% are incarcerated – they are in the highest rates highest of incarceration in the world.

“It’s not about black or white, it’s about stopping racism in the justice system - black lives matter.

“Black fellas are still suffering in an unfair justice system - we are still living under a white, oppressive government and being targeted is not new to us.

“Until we stand together and speak out, nothing will change.

“Since the 1991 Royal Commission into black deaths in custody, we’ve had 432 deaths to date.

“Before ’91, nothing was recorded of the thousands who died.

“At the protest on Saturday we will have a minute’s silence for all those incarcerated who have lost their lives in and unfair, unjust system.

“Us black mob - we carry this pain together and share the same pain.

“When one brother or sister suffers, we all suffer and feel it because we all know what it’s like to be black and treated differently.

“We are one mob in spirit and we need stand up and make a change.”

The Black Lives matter protest begins at 12.30pm on Saturday, June 6 in Spinks Park on Molesworth Street.

“Bring banners, signs and whatever is in your heart,” Cindy said.

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