Aboriginal Deaths inCustody

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   barryrutherfordposted 15 years ago

   I am really frustrated and angry I have just posted a hub about an Aboriginal Death in Custody in 2004 in which me and others have been following since then !.  our worst fears of the case have been realised.

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      SomewayOuttaHereposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I paid attention to a local case of a young aboriginal man in Canada (22 yrs) at the time that died in police custody.  No drugs/alcohol involved.  For more than 10 years, I'd read his mother's memorial ad in the paper basically stating each anniversary of his death that police were at fault.  Lucky me I met her twice - once when she was showing her late son's vintage vehicle at a car show.  Even at the car show she was making a statement on his behalf - had a sign saying something about who owned it and that he died in police custody - so of course I had to speak to her to let her know I was paying attention to what she was doing.  Ran into her again about 3 years ago, we had coffee, the police privately apologized by paying her $'s and started an educational fund at the local university in his memory.  She couldn't disclose the sum - all she wanted was for the police to accept responsibility.  Her persistance paid off - his name was Anthony Dawson - beautiful young man whose life ended way too soon just because he was aboriginal!  No police were charged in that case.  And they kept it out of the media as much as possible.  I will never forget his name - hope you remember him too.

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2. 70

   earnestshubposted 15 years ago

   Funny thing about human beings. We have done this to our aboriginal brothers and sisters, the real custodians and owners of our land.
   To do so in modern supposedly democratic countries such as Australia, America and Canada speaks volumes about the incapacity  of the people to even ensure their police forces observe basic human rights.
   In the long haul, politicians will do what the majority want them to do, and if that means being selfish and ignoring minority cultures or worse, exploiting them rather than confronting the problem, that is what we will get. No changes. No heart. Money wasted.
   
   I wish our nations would gain in humanity and get human rights issues within the legal system working for all of us. Our police in the cities in Australia have been connected with major crimes, and the country police are often narrow minded  underneath a public face that disappears down the local pub with the boys having a few too many drinks.

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   Dame Scribeposted 15 years ago

   Deaths in custody or during 'apprehension' is awful not to mention psychologically traumatizing to the younger generation. The lack of and continued practice of not addressing or accepting responsibility for pointless deaths- only serves to create another generation of suspicion between the gov'ts and Aboriginals. There is great appreciation for the support from those that do genuinely care and hope that some forgiveness be extended even to the extremists. Not all Aboriginals are of the same tribe lol

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4. 74

   barryrutherfordposted 15 years ago

   thanks for your posts so far i have been following this case since 2004 and i was prepared to give the police the benefit of the doubt now i am outraged !

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      earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      As I am!

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5. 74

   barryrutherfordposted 15 years ago

   indeed thanks ernesthub i cannot let this slide by

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      earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Barry did Crickey dot com have anything to say on it?

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      1. 74

         barryrutherfordposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         i am not a crikey subscriber

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   theirishobserver.posted 15 years ago

   these are difficult situations as the gate keepers to the information are normally the wrong doers or those suspected of wrong doing

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7. 74

   barryrutherfordposted 15 years ago

   As  i just said on my  hub the mistreatment of Aboriginees dates backto the invasion and white settlement of Australia in 1788 unfortunatel a cultural norm developed which allowed the police to continue to mistreat Aborigines to this day..

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