A snap protest outside Long Bay Correctional Facility on February 1, organised by聽,聽demanded an end to brutality in custody. It followed the bashing of a First Nations inmate.
About 100 people gathered in nearby Maroubra and marched to the front of the complex, chanting: 鈥淎lways was, always will be, Aboriginal land!鈥
First Nations Elder Dave Bell called for urgent action to protect inmates from physical assault. He accused prison authorities of denying and trying to cover up the recent abuse of an inmate.
First Nations rights activist Paul Silva said: 鈥淎boriginal people are being incarcerated in record numbers in this country. We demand an end to the brutalisation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners.鈥
Silva reminded the rally that the campaign for justice for his uncle, David Dungay Jr, continues. Dungay, a diabetic, was forcibly restrained by prison guards in Long Bay in December 2015, and even after calling out 鈥淚 can鈥檛 breathe鈥, multiple guards still kneeling upon Dungay鈥檚 back. He later died.
Family members of the inmate who was recently attacked also addressed the protest.
His sister said he had been held on his back and couldn鈥檛 breathe. 鈥淪ince being in Long Bay, he has been ill-treated, assaulted and denied medical treatment.鈥
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