Gail Hickey, the mother of TJ Hickey, led a march through the streets of Redfern to mark 17 years since her son鈥檚 death on February 14.
TJ Hickey was killed while being pursued by police in Redfern in 2004. The young Kamilaroi man was riding his bike when a police car started to pursue him. The police car, driven by then-Constable Hollingsworth, hit TJ鈥檚 bike, catapulting him onto a nearby fence where he was impaled.
Contrary to all police protocols, officers pulled TJ from the fence, potentially worsening his injuries. The family has been fighting for justice ever since.
The coronial inquest contained serious errors and multiple omissions, suggesting police corruption and highlighting the inadequacy of the legal system. The Hickey family want a new inquest. Every year they call for one on the anniversary of his death.
Successive NSW governments have refused to bring the responsible officers to court.
The rally, organised by the Hickey family and the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), began at TJ Hickey Memorial Park.
The Hickey family delivered powerful speeches: Gail Hickey was in tears speaking about what happened to her son. She accused Redfern police of murdering her son and thanked the crowd for supporting her family for 17 years.
Keenan Mundine, TJ鈥檚 cousin and co-founder of Deadly Connections, recalled the night he heard what happened. He was in juvenile detention at the time and, after receiving the phone call, he had to return to his cell to cry.
Mundine also spoke about the life that TJ could have lived if not for the actions of the police. 鈥淲hen I was a 14, I was locked up, but now I am 33 and I don鈥檛 have to worry where my next meal comes from, I just get to go home to my family. I know TJ would鈥檝e found something similar.鈥 He also spoke in favour of an independent body to investigate Black deaths in custody.
Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong addressed the police's failure聽to hold its officers accountable. She聽claimed聽they were 鈥渞esponsible for the death and murder of TJ Hickey鈥 and pledged her full support for the campaign for justice.
The Hickey family then led the protest to the Redfern Police Station, which had been blocked off with police cars, fencing, and a significant officer presence.
Protestors chanted 鈥淛ustice for TJ Hickey鈥 and 鈥淎lways was, always will be, Aboriginal land鈥.
Gail Hickey spoke directly to the Redfern police, asking them to show some empathy for a grieving mother and demanding that they 鈥渓eave our children alone鈥.聽After being blocked by the police on Redfern Street, the rally turned around and marched to Prince Alfred Park, where a barbecue had been organised.
Justice for TJ Hickey and the more than 430 Aboriginal people who have died in police custody since the 1991 royal commission into Black deaths in custody is a vital part of the struggle against systemic racism.聽The Hickey family are continuing their campaign for the inquest to be re-opened.
[You can support the Hickey family鈥檚 campaign for justice by signing the petition .]