John Pat

WGAR News: Let's Talk's Tiga Bayles interviews Marianne Mackay about the WA criminal justice system

Newsletter date: 24 October 2013

Contents:

* Kaitlin Morris, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange: Young, Indigenous and Imprisoned, Australia's National Disgrace
* Let's Talk's Tiga Bayles interviews Marianne Mackay about First Nations rights within the WA criminal justice system
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Geraldton's racial tension - "colour should not matter"
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Coroner's inquiry - "prisoners are treated like animals"
* Tracker: Abbott urged to visit jails

JOHN PAT – a death in custody – “We’ll get you, you black cunt.â€

Gerry Georgatos "We have to get rid of racist cops. I don't want to dwell on the past but I have grown up bitter," said Nyungar Elder Ben Taylor. Mr Taylor is on the mark when he says, "They have been killing our people for two hundred years."

On 28 September 1983 a young life came to an end that sent a community into tears before it became rage and outrage dulled into anguish and sorrow by the passing of time. The tears of 28 September 1983 filled Roebourne, breaking the hearts of its Yindjibarndi peoples. A mother lost her eldest son, 16 years young. John Pat's death contributed to the call for an inquiry into Aboriginal deaths. Some things have changed however not enough has changed. His mother Mavis remembers him every hour of every day and not just on September 28 - there is a hole in her heart that nothing can mend, such is a mother's pain.

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