The lawns of the Alice Springs courthouse have yet again become a site of sorrow and anger. This follows the deaths of two Aboriginal men in custody within a span of two weeks in the Northern Territory. The family of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White, a Warlpiri man with disabilities who died after being restrained by police at a supermarket last month, held a vigil. At the gathering, they urged for an independent investigation, the release of CCTV footage, and for the involved officers to be relieved of duty during the investigation. This was their third vigil since his passing. The man’s grandfather, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, emphasized their determination to fight for justice not only for their loved one but for all Indigenous people who have perished in custody.
As the nation rallied in support of the Warlpiri community, another Aboriginal man died in custody in Darwin. This 68-year-old senior elder from the remote community of Wadeye was remembered for his advocacy for bilingual schooling and better education funding for his community. His death further fueled calls for action. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has demanded an “emergency intervention” from the federal government, calling for a forum with First Nations leaders and authorities to address the punitive justice measures that have led to these tragic events.
The prime minister was asked about the request for federal intervention and stated that he needed to be convinced that those in Canberra could better handle these issues than the people in the Northern Territory. The local police responded to calls for an independent investigation of Kumanjayi White’s death, stating that the law does not allow them to hand this responsibility to another entity. However, Warlpiri leader Karl Hampton, who speaks for White’s family, argued that this response is merely an excuse, emphasizing that the current state of the territory is in crisis, indicating that the existing systems are flawed.
For those affected, support options are available. Indigenous Australians can reach out to 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support, or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/11/kumanjayi-white-family-vigil-aboriginal-deaths-in-custody-ntwnfb
