SNAP PROTEST : 11TH MARCH @ 11AM WE DEMAND MORE THAN JUST A VOICE TO PARLIAMENT!
First Nations people from around the continent will gather in capital cities on Saturday the 11th of March at 11am in protest to the Australian government's proposed Voice to Parliament.
First Nations peoples already have voices. The Australian Government and parliament lack the will to listen!
The protest will take place at; Parliament House, Naarm (Melbourne), Queen's Gardens, Meanjin (Brisbane), Hyde Park, Warrang (Sydney), and Parliament House, Ngambri (Canberra).
The protests are part of a movement of First Nations grassroots led activism and advocacy across the continent supported by the Black Peoples Union which seeks to provide a platform for First Nation people to have their voices and objections to the Voice to Parliament heard.
It is the Black Peoples Union postition that First Nations political representation and decision-making must be driven by all First Nations peoples, and not just a handful of those selected and resourced by the Australian government. First Nations people already have diverse models of governance and systems of decision-making and have worked hard to maintain their unceded sovereignty and right to self-determination over their lands, resources, and communities despite the many challenges they face in the wake of colonization and systematic oppression.
The proposal of the Voice to Parliment:
- does not go far enough in recognizing and addressing the ongoing issue of ignorance to First Nations sovereignty.
- will not represent the diversity of Indigenous voices and perspectives.
- will not have enough power or influence to bring about meaningful change.
- will not fully empower First Nations peoples or address the root causes of the ongoing inequalities and injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples in Australia.
- does not go far enough in recognizing or addressing the ongoing impacts of colonization and systemic oppression experienced by Indigenous peoples in Australia.
- is a way for the Australian government to co-opt and control Indigenous voices.
- will prioritize the interests of certain First Nations groups over others, leading to further divisions and inequalities within our communities much like Native Title.
- will limit and manipulate Indigenous participation in political decision-making processes that affect First Nations peoples' lives.
If you can't make it to the snap rally, you can support in other ways:
Reject the Voice to Parliament campaign.
Join the Black Peoples Union.
Support First Nations affliate groups, such as Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, and Treaty before Voice.
Decolonise, and give the land back.
The Black Peoples Union continues to fight for First Nations voices to be heard, and demands the Australian government ensures First Nations peoples are respected as leaders, the key creators and drivers of changes to policies that effect First Nations people's lives.
"We are protesting to resist the voice to parliament and referendum,. We are demanding our land back and self-determination for our communities" said BPU Spokesperson Em Randall. In another statement, BPU Secretary Dan Roe commented, "We demand real change instead of tokenistic policy that falls short of addressing the root causes of the ongoing injustices and inequalities experienced by First Nations people around the continent. The government won't even listen to the advice from it's own inquiries and commisions, what makes you think it will listen to an advisory body? We need a political system that truly recognizes and respects our nations' sovereignty and our rights".
The Black Peoples Union continues to advocate and demand greater recognition of First Nations' sovereignty, rights and interests, and seeks to enable and support First Nations peoples to organise and address the legacy of colonialism and ongoing oppression in so-called Australia.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact the Black Peoples Union via our website: https://www.blackpeoplesunion.org/