Thousands gathered at King George Square in Magandjin / Brisbane on Saturday to rally in solidarity for Kumanjayi White, a Warlpiri man from Yuendumu community who died in custody in Mparntwe / Alice Springs.
The rally opened with Wangerriburra and Birrigubba man, Sam Waiburra, who questioned why the community continues to gather year after year for the same reason.
Mr Waiburra said the explanation from police was familiar to many.
"The police say he became unresponsive – we know what this means," he said.
"It means he was killed by that police officer who apprehended him for the heinous crime of stealing a chocolate bar – allegedly.
"It's disgusting and devastating to be here once again as a community to protest and mourn another person who has been taken by police in this country."
Gungarri woman, Dr Raylene Nixon, mother of Steven Lee Nixon-McKellar, spoke about her own loss and the experience of her son's death in police custody.
Mr Nixon-McKellar died on 7 October 2021 following an altercation with Queensland Police, after officers attempted to arrest him during a traffic stop.
Body-worn camera footage presented at the inquest showed an officer instructing another to "choke this c*** out, choke him out," before a lateral vascular neck restraint was applied.
Another officer then yelled, "he's asleep let him go". Mr Nixon-McKellar later died after paramedics were unable to revive him.
Dr Nixon told the crowd she continues to carry the burden of her son's death.
"Today I carry with me, the weight of my own loss of my son Steven Lee," she said.
"First they criminalise us, then they brutalise us and then they justify it."
Wakka Wakka and South Sea Islander man, Kevin Yow-Yeh spoke about the need for political accountability urging attendees to take action.
"We're just asking for a fair and independent investigation," Mr Yow-Yeh said.
"If you can't email, flood (federal Minister for Indigenous Australians) Malarndirri McCarthy's social media… she hasn't made an official statement asking for an independent investigation.
"Solidarity means action."
Throughout the rally, chants echoed through the streets, including "Say his name – Kumanjayi White", "They say justice, we say murder", and "Too many coppers, not enough justice".
Dr Chelsea Watego addressed the rally, saying the time for reconciliation and Closing the Gap had passed.
She told the crowd that efforts must now focus on justice and accountability, highlighting the continued failure to hold police responsible.
There have been 597 black deaths in custody with zero police convictions since the Royal Commission in 1997.
The Magandjin / Brisbane rally was part of a national series of protests demanding justice for Kumanjayi White and an end to Aboriginal deaths in custody.
