Hundreds of mourners gathered outside the Northern Territory’s parliament house in Darwin, paying tribute to Kumanjayi White, a young Warlpiri man whose life was tragically cut short in police custody last week in Alice Springs. The emotional vigil reflected the deep grief and calls for justice resonating throughout the Indigenous community and beyond.
Kumanjayi White, 24, from Yuendumu, died on May 27 after being restrained by police officers on the floor of a supermarket. His family described him as a vulnerable individual with disabilities who had been living away from his home community in Yuendumu, where he required supported accommodation in Alice Springs.
According to NT Police, plain-clothed officers responded after Mr White assaulted a security guard at the store, which led to the confrontation. The young man’s death has sparked widespread outrage and heartbreak across the community.
The vigil saw several hundred people, including elders and Indigenous leaders, gather in somber reflection. Attendees embraced each other, holding candles and flowers as they listened to heartfelt speeches. The crowd vocally demanded an independent investigation into Mr White’s death, chanting for justice and expressing frustration over the lack of action on previous recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Amnesty International Indigenous rights spokesperson Rodney Dillon emphasized the profound grief felt by the community. “Mr White’s death has ignited grief and agony across the wider community, and an independent inquiry is essential for his family to find peace,” Dillon stated.
The gathering underscores the ongoing call for accountability and justice in cases of Indigenous deaths in custody, a issue that continues to resonate deeply within communities across Australia.
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