WGAR News: Obituaries / Tributes to Uncle Ray Jackson who has recently passed

Newsletter date: 25 April 2015

We pay our deep respect to Uncle Ray Jackson who has recently passed - WGAR News Editorial Team

Contents:

Obituaries / Tributes:

* Green Left: Letter from the Indigenous Social Justice Association on the death of Ray Jackson

* Paul McAleer, Maritime Union of Australia, Green Left: Letter from the MUA on the death of Ray Jackson

* Rachel Evans & Raul Bassi, Green Left: Wiradjuri warrior Ray Jackson has passed away

* Paddy Gibson, Solidarity Online: Vale Ray Jackson: tireless fighter for justice and Aboriginal rights

* Diane Fieldes, Red Flag: A tireless fighter against a rotten system - Ray Jackson 1941-2015

* Amy McQuire, New Matilda: Champion Of Indigenous Rights Ray Jackson Dies

* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Wiradjuri social justice warrior passes away - the soul rolls over

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WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

Obituaries / Tributes:

Green Left: Letters from the Indigenous Social Justice Association and MUA on the death of Ray Jackson
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/58834
24 Apr 15: "Dear Indigenous Social Justice Association Sydney, It is with great sad news that ISJA Sydney writes to inform you all of the passing of our Comrade Ray Jackson president and founder of the Indigenous Social Justice Association Sydney and long time socialist activist organiser for Aboriginal rights, justice for all deaths in custody and other social justice issues. Last night, on April 23, Ray was found in bed by his granddaughter and it seems he died peacefully in his sleep after the regular ISJA meeting last night."

Green Left: Letters from the Indigenous Social Justice Association and MUA on the death of Ray Jackson
[scroll down page] https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/58834
24 Apr 15: "Comrade Ray Jackson has been at the forefront of the fight for justice not only of Aboriginal people but all of the marginalised and oppressed peoples. His dedication to the movement is unquestionable; with a grinding obstinacy in the face of a largely apathetic community, Ray sought to shine a blowtorch on the corrupt and morally bankrupt no matter what ignoble office they occupied or the undeserved nature of their power. His courage showed contempt for the brutality that has been inflicted upon Aboriginal people, ... " Paul McAleer, Branch Secretary, Maritime Union of Australia - Sydney Branch

Green Left: Wiradjuri warrior Ray Jackson has passed away
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/58833
24 Apr 15: "Wiradjuri man Ray Jackson, socialist, and indefatigable fighter for a better world has fallen. At 73, he died peacefully in the evening on April 23. ... Uncle Ray was stolen from his mother at the age of two, and placed with a white family when aged about three. This experience resulted in Ray developing a firm commitment to justice for Aboriginal people, and opposition to all forms of oppression. As a teenager he became active in trade unions. He was a coordinator of the Aboriginal Deaths In Custody Watch Committee from 1991 to 1997. ... " By Rachel Evans & Raul Bassi

Solidarity Online: Vale Ray Jackson: tireless fighter for justice and Aboriginal rights
http://www.solidarity.net.au/web/vale-ray-jackson-tireless-fighter-for-j...
24 Apr 15: "It is with deep sadness that Solidarity has learnt of the passing of Uncle Ray Jackson overnight. The news is a serious blow to the movement for Aboriginal freedom and to the struggle for socialism. No one embodied determination and devotion to the struggle for justice more fully than Wiradjuri warrior Ray Jackson. Every waking moment, even through his final years when he constantly battled ill health, Ray was organising, writing and agitating for change, most often in his capacity as President of the Indigenous Social Justice Association. ... " By Paddy Gibson

Red Flag: A tireless fighter against a rotten system - Ray Jackson 1941-2015
https://redflag.org.au/article/tireless-fighter-against-rotten-system
24 Apr 15: "How sad it is to learn that our comrade and friend, Uncle Ray Jackson, has died. A Wiradjuri fighter for Koori justice ("fkj", as he always signed his fascinating emails), Ray will be best known for his tireless work against Aboriginal deaths in custody, the countless hours investigating cases, supporting families of victims, and organising rally after rally to back that up and make it clear to the authorities that without justice there would be no peace. The breadth of Ray’s fighting spirit meant he stood against all injustice. He was a socialist. ... " Diane Fieldes

New Matilda: Champion Of Indigenous Rights Ray Jackson Dies
https://newmatilda.com/2015/04/24/champion-indigenous-rights-ray-jackson...
24 Apr 15: "A member of the Stolen Generations and a passionate advocate, friends of Jackson said his passing would leave a space hard to fill, writes Amy McQuire. A champion of Indigenous rights passed away last night. Ray Jackson, President and founder of the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA) Sydney was a tireless campaigner for Aboriginal Australia, particularly active in fighting against black deaths in custody. ... "It will be hard to fill the space," he [Raul Bassi] says." By Amy McQuire

The Stringer: Wiradjuri social justice warrior passes away - the soul rolls over
http://thestringer.com.au/wiradjuri-social-justice-warrior-passes-away-t...
24 Apr 15: "It is not often I write about the passing of anyone - each day millions of us pass from this world - our souls roll over. Yesterday morning, 76 year old Wiradjuri social justice warrior, Ray Jackson passed away. He was a soldier of peace, a warrior to the end. Ray and I talked regularly. He was not well of late but fought to be at one rally after another - whether for the rights of refugees, whether for his lifelong passion the Aboriginal rights struggle. He was not just a person of words, he was a person of great deeds and actions, standing solid with grieving families ... " By Gerry Georgatos

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