Large crowds gather across the country in memory of an Aboriginal man who died in custody

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Large crowds are gathering this weekend across the country in memory of an aboriginal man who died in custody in Alice Springs last week. The rallies are part of a 'national week of action' highlighting indigenous deaths in custody.

Transcript

00:00There's a sense of sadness and grief reverberating at these rallies in memory of 24-year-old

00:07Kumijai White, who died during an attempted arrest at the Alice Springs Coles last week.

00:13His family have four main messages they want people to hear at these gatherings.

00:19They're calling for an independent body to investigate the death, saying they don't trust

00:23police. They also want to see CCTV of the incident. Third, they're calling for the

00:29officers involved to be stood down and finally are demanding the police force not make any

00:35commentary about Kumijai White that they say denigrates his character. At these vigils,

00:41Mr White has been remembered as a happy young man, someone who is much loved and dearly missed.

00:48He was known to live here in Alice Springs in supported accommodation. Because of his

00:53disabilities, he was unable to live on country in Yundamu, some 300 kilometres away.

00:58These rallies are part of a national week of action. They're being held across the country

01:04this weekend in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, in solidarity with Wolperi people,

01:10who have now lost two young men from Yundamu in custody in the past five years.

01:17Mr White's grandfather addressed crowds at the rally in Melbourne, thanking them for their support.

01:22We can't go on like this. Our children cannot be in fear, no matter what.

01:36We can't live like this. Our young people are fear.

01:46The NT police force has rejected calls for an independent body to investigate and says the

01:53coronial investigation into this incident has paused while a criminal investigation is carried out.

01:59The ABC understands one of the officers alleged to be involved is Police Prosecutor Stephen Haig.

02:06Neither of the police involved have been stood down and no charges have been laid.

02:11こんな態 of faith.

02:16I just want to play a single.

02:19The squad then runs out a lot of construction,

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