AUWU solidarity with First Peoples
AUWU encourages members and supporters to participate in solidarity activities to support First Peoples
The Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union expresses solidarity with First Peoples, who face ongoing colonisation, injustice and police brutality.
We support First Peoples’ communities and people of colour as they experience racism, brutality and systemic violence from the authorities claiming to serve and protect them.
We condemn the inaction of authorities and politicians regarding the 430+ people who have died in custody since the 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Their failure to hold a single police officer or prison staff member involved in these deaths to account is shameful and perpetuates the systemic racism and violence that will only lead to more lives lost.
We call on our members and supporters to support and listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by participating in the Blak-led/supported protests happening around the country. We encourage everyone to read the suggested actions and resources below.
We recognise that we carry out our work on stolen lands, and that the struggles of unemployed workers on this continent disproportionately affect Indigenous people.
Protests
nb: Boorloo (“Perth”) does not appear on this list because the protest happened on 1 June.
Kaurna land (“Adelaide”), 12pm Saturday 6 June, co-organised by SOSBlakAustralia SA Action Group | Facebook event page
Meanjin (“Brisbane”), 1pm Saturday 6 June, organised by Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance | Facebook event page
Naarm (“Melbourne”), 2pm Saturday 6 June, organised by Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance | Facebook event page
Mulubinba (“Newcastle”), 2pm Saturday 6 June, organised by Fighting in Solidarity Towards Treaties | Facebook event page
Cavanbah (“Byron Bay”), 2pm Saturday 6 June, hosted by Bunyararra Cultural Collective | Facebook post
Gadigal land (“Sydney”), 3pm Saturday 6 June, co-organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association Sydney | Facebook event page
Nipaluna (“Hobart”), 3:30pm Saturday 6 June, co-organised by Strong Blak Tasmania and Nayri Niara | Facebook event page
Other solidarity actions
If you don’t have any money there are still ways to financially support Blak folks.
Share fundraising campaigns on social media
Find Blak creators on YouTube or other ad-supported networks and play their channels – even when you don’t have time to watch and learn, play these videos in the background if you have enough bandwidth/data
If you have money, donate.
Your local Aboriginal Legal Service
#FreeHer paying fines to get Blak women out of prison | GoFundMe page
Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders fighting for climate justice | website donation page
Blak Rainbow supporting queer Indigenous folks | website donation page
Many other organisations you can support to #PayTheRent are listed in this Google doc
Listen and learn.
Follow @IndigenousX
Read about the history of Blak resistance
Race Matters on FBI Radio – available as a podcast
Gary Foley on white activism:
More info
There are countless important fundraisers and educational resources. You can find many valuable groups and causes using the links below.
We thank these organisations for their work in creating and collating information included in this statement.