Re: [Marxism] [BRC-DETROIT] Australian Youth Rebellion in Sydney Over Police Killing

[rohan <rohanp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Reports from a Redfern community meeting:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/4559
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/4562

On Tue, 2004-02-17 at 08:24, Charles Brown wrote:
> Sydney riots over Aborigine death
>
> More than 40 police officers have been injured in Sydney in a
> riot sparked by the death of an Aboriginal teenager.
>
> Angry youths torched a railway station and pelted police with
> petrol bombs and lumps of concrete in the mainly Aborigine
> district of Redfern.
>
> Thomas Hickey, 17, died after he was impaled on a metal fence
> when he fell off his bike. Police deny claims he was being
> chased by officers at the time.
>
> There are to be three inquiries into the boy's death and the
> riot.
>
> Four people have been arrested and charged over the riot,
> which last for nine hours. Police say they expect more
> arrests to follow.
>
> The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says this was the worst night
> of violence in Sydney for years, and will be a setback for
> race relations.
>
> New South Wales State Premier Bob Carr said his government
> would launch inquiries into the incident to establish how the
> teenager died and whether there was any police involvement.
>
> REDFERN RIOTS
>
> The three inquiries will be carried out by the state coroner,
> the police service and a public affairs watchdog.
> Local anger
>
> The riot broke out on Sunday night and continued into the
> early hours of Monday.
>
> Police reinforcements wearing riot gear were drafted in from
> across Sydney to quell the violence.
>
> Eight of the injured officers had to go to hospital.
>
> "At this stage one officer was knocked out by a brick that
> was thrown through the air and a number of others have got
> broken limbs, legs," Assistant Commissioner Bob Waites told
> reporters.
>
> At the height of the riots, some 100 people were said to have
> taken to the streets.
>
> "They burnt out one vehicle and they in fact were throwing
> Molotov cocktails both at police and at Redfern railway
> station during the course of the riot," said Mr Waites.
>
> Thomas Hickey's mother said her son was being pursued by
> police when he fell of his bike and became impaled on a metal
> fence.
>
> The allegation is strongly denied by the police.
>
> A local resident, identified only as Donna, told ABC radio
> that people were angry because they believed the police were
> responsible for the teenager's death.
>
> "He was murdered. We've been down to look at the spot and
> everything and there's no sign, they cleaned it up that
> quick," she said.
>
> One local community leader accused the police of harassing
> people who live in a rundown area of housing known as The
> Block.
>
> "You could interview every Aboriginal kid down there that
> comes from The Block, and the majority will tell you to your
> face... that they've all been bashed by the police," said
> Lyle Munro.
>
> The area is notorious for drug dealing, with heroin being
> sold openly in a local park.
>
>
> Story from BBC NEWS:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/3491299.stm
>
> Published: 2004/02/16 07:49:53 GMT
>
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>
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