1,000 signatures reached
To: Martin Dole, Acting NT Commissioner of Police
Justice for Kumanjayi White
We the undersigned are horrified by the recent death in custody of Kumanjayi White, a 24-year old Warlpiri man from Yuendumu.
We stand in solidarity with Kumanjayi’s family and community in their campaign for justice and self-determination.
We support the family’s urgent demands relating to the current police investigation:
1. The investigation into Kumanjayi White’s death must be taken over by a body independent of the NT police force.
2. All relevant CCTV and body cam footage of events prior to and during Kumanjayi’s time in custody must be released to the family.
3. Police involved in Kumanjayi's death must be stood down while the investigation proceeds.
3. Police involved in Kumanjayi's death must be stood down while the investigation proceeds.
4. Police must immediately cease making public statements that allege criminality and denigrate the character of Kumanjayi and apologise for all statements made to date.
Why is this important?
Warlpiri people and supporters are mobilising for justice and for systemic change in response to the horrific death in custody of Kumanjayi White. These immediate demands stem from deep grievances about the conduct of the police investigation so far are an important stepping stone towards justice.
Warlpiri leader Ned Hargraves explains the circumstances of Kumanjayi White's death:
"The young Warlpiri man who died in police custody in Coles in Alice Springs on Tuesday May 27 is my Jaja (grandson).
Warlpiri leader Ned Hargraves explains the circumstances of Kumanjayi White's death:
"The young Warlpiri man who died in police custody in Coles in Alice Springs on Tuesday May 27 is my Jaja (grandson).
I am angry and frustrated that yet another one of our young men has lost his life at the hands of the police.
We know that he was held down by two police until he lost consciousness and perished. But at the moment we are in the dark about what really happened.
It is disgraceful that police are already putting out stories that portray my jaja as a criminal. They are trying to run him down. We demand they stop spreading stories and show some respect.
Family representatives need to see all available footage of this incident immediately - both CCTV and body cam so we can understand what happened to my Jaja - but so far they are refusing to grant this.
We need an investigation completely independent of police
This young man was living away from his community, in town, in supported accommodation because of his disabilities and he was very vulnerable. He needed support and not to be criminalised because of his disability.
What are the police doing using such force on a vulnerable young man in a supermarket? Did they even try to de-escalate?
This happened on the 5th anniversary of the death of George Floyd - during Reconciliation Week - but my people have to confront another death in custody.
My people are being routinely brutalised by police. We are going into jail in record numbers - men, women and children alike.
We are suffering badly under the shadow of the NT Intervention and under a Country Liberal Party government in the NT that is making many racist policies against us - sending more people to jail and threatening our sacred sites. This is making racists more confident to attack us.
We have put forward many solutions to improve Warlpiri relations with the justice system that continue to be ignored.
The death of my Jaja needs to be a moment when we come together to fight for change. Enough is enough! We need justice!"