Post by lennie on May 21, 2008 2:12:15 GMT -5
from 'The Coorabin'
THE COORABIN
[PLEASE NOTE: THIS EMAIL IS DELIVERED BCC TO MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS]
POLICE ACCUSED OF RACISM OVER
HANDLING OF KKK ATTACK
Friday, 02 May, 2008
By Amy McQuire
National Indigenous Times (Issue 152)
GRIFFITH, May 7, 2008: Police in the south-western NSW town of Griffith have been accused of racism after a weekend clash that saw more than half a dozen Aboriginal youths arrested but their alleged attacker - a man wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood and wielding a tomahawk - allowed to walk free.
Local newspaper the Griffith Area News today reported that the altercation occurred around 1am on Saturday morning, when a group of eight Aboriginal youths were allegedly confronted by a man wearing the KKK's iconic headwear, holding a tomahawk.
The man leapt from a Toyota Hilux vehicle and began hurling racial abuse.
A 16-year-old girl who was involved in the incident told the Griffith Area News that she had "never been so scared" in her life.
According to the Area News, police arrived on the scene to find the Aboriginal youths surrounding the car. The young woman said the man hid his hood and tomahawk in the back of his vehicle.
A clash broke out after police refused to search the car to check for the hood and tomahawk, and then arrested the Aboriginal group while letting the man and his two companions go.
"There were four carloads of police and they capsicum sprayed us, even though I am pregnant and they're not supposed to spray people under 18,"
the girl told the Area News.
"We kept saying the hood was in the back of the car but they just ignored us and arrested us instead.
"We were just trying to protect ourselves."
Aboriginal community member Lyn Kilby, who was "born and bred" in Griffith, told NIT today that it had all come as a bit of a shock.
"It was quite shocking to learn about it in the first place in this community and then it was disturbing that police didn't want to listen to what the Koori kids were saying," Ms Kilby said.
Ms Kilby said she had seen some of the families involved and that the parents were outraged by the incident.
Duty Officer Inspector Murray Gillett from the Griffith Police today told NIT that the matter was being "investigated fully" and that there had already been a successful meeting with the Aboriginal community over the incident.
"At this point in time, it is very important that a thorough investigation to prove or disprove the allegations is carried out," he said.
Inspector Gillett said although the Local Area Commander, Superintendent Michael Rowan was "very committed" to making sure the relationship between Indigenous people and police improved, the whole community had expectations that they could carry on living "free from any type of offence".
"It is very important that the community and the broader community fully understand that police don't tolerate any type of anti-social behaviour and that we do not discriminate against anyone," Inspector Gillett said.
Ms Kilby said there had always been strains between police and the local Indigenous community, but said she didn't want to blanket the whole police service.
"But there is racism here. I grew up with it, my children grew up with it and it's still happening," Ms Kilby said.
"...We always hear that communities don't trust police, they don't respect police. But trust is not something you're just given. Trust is something that is earned and it has to be a two way street."
Local Wiradjuri elder Gloria Goolagong told the Area News that a matter like this couldn't be ignored.
"We've sat silent for the last 12 months but we can't just ignore this... the KKK is out there," Mrs Goolagong told the paper.
"We can't just let this go. The police here are racist and this is proof.
"This group were victims and yet they ended up being charged."
Inspector Gillett said that a number of people had already been charged and interviewed over the incident. NIT understands all of them are Aboriginal.
THE COORABIN
[PLEASE NOTE: THIS EMAIL IS DELIVERED BCC TO MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS]
POLICE ACCUSED OF RACISM OVER
HANDLING OF KKK ATTACK
Friday, 02 May, 2008
By Amy McQuire
National Indigenous Times (Issue 152)
GRIFFITH, May 7, 2008: Police in the south-western NSW town of Griffith have been accused of racism after a weekend clash that saw more than half a dozen Aboriginal youths arrested but their alleged attacker - a man wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood and wielding a tomahawk - allowed to walk free.
Local newspaper the Griffith Area News today reported that the altercation occurred around 1am on Saturday morning, when a group of eight Aboriginal youths were allegedly confronted by a man wearing the KKK's iconic headwear, holding a tomahawk.
The man leapt from a Toyota Hilux vehicle and began hurling racial abuse.
A 16-year-old girl who was involved in the incident told the Griffith Area News that she had "never been so scared" in her life.
According to the Area News, police arrived on the scene to find the Aboriginal youths surrounding the car. The young woman said the man hid his hood and tomahawk in the back of his vehicle.
A clash broke out after police refused to search the car to check for the hood and tomahawk, and then arrested the Aboriginal group while letting the man and his two companions go.
"There were four carloads of police and they capsicum sprayed us, even though I am pregnant and they're not supposed to spray people under 18,"
the girl told the Area News.
"We kept saying the hood was in the back of the car but they just ignored us and arrested us instead.
"We were just trying to protect ourselves."
Aboriginal community member Lyn Kilby, who was "born and bred" in Griffith, told NIT today that it had all come as a bit of a shock.
"It was quite shocking to learn about it in the first place in this community and then it was disturbing that police didn't want to listen to what the Koori kids were saying," Ms Kilby said.
Ms Kilby said she had seen some of the families involved and that the parents were outraged by the incident.
Duty Officer Inspector Murray Gillett from the Griffith Police today told NIT that the matter was being "investigated fully" and that there had already been a successful meeting with the Aboriginal community over the incident.
"At this point in time, it is very important that a thorough investigation to prove or disprove the allegations is carried out," he said.
Inspector Gillett said although the Local Area Commander, Superintendent Michael Rowan was "very committed" to making sure the relationship between Indigenous people and police improved, the whole community had expectations that they could carry on living "free from any type of offence".
"It is very important that the community and the broader community fully understand that police don't tolerate any type of anti-social behaviour and that we do not discriminate against anyone," Inspector Gillett said.
Ms Kilby said there had always been strains between police and the local Indigenous community, but said she didn't want to blanket the whole police service.
"But there is racism here. I grew up with it, my children grew up with it and it's still happening," Ms Kilby said.
"...We always hear that communities don't trust police, they don't respect police. But trust is not something you're just given. Trust is something that is earned and it has to be a two way street."
Local Wiradjuri elder Gloria Goolagong told the Area News that a matter like this couldn't be ignored.
"We've sat silent for the last 12 months but we can't just ignore this... the KKK is out there," Mrs Goolagong told the paper.
"We can't just let this go. The police here are racist and this is proof.
"This group were victims and yet they ended up being charged."
Inspector Gillett said that a number of people had already been charged and interviewed over the incident. NIT understands all of them are Aboriginal.
