Protesters have vowed to defy New South Wales' anti-protest laws and march on January 26 after police blocked a march in Sydney marking 10 years since the death of Dunghutti man David Dungay Jr.
Held at Hyde Park on Sunday, the rally drew hundreds of protesters who condemned the historically high number of Indigenous deaths in custody in 2025 and called for justice and accountability from NSW Police and coronial processes.
Speakers at the protest included Dunghutti man Rick Hampson Snr, Greens representative Sue Higginson, and justice advocate Paddy Gibson.
The rally was led by Dunghutti man and nephew of David Dungay Jr, Paul Silva, who said the crisis of Indigenous deaths in custody has continued largely unchecked for decades.
"We now sit at over 615 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the 1991 Royal Commission with no justice and real accountability for the families involved," Mr Silva said.
Deaths in custody continue to devastate Indigenous families every year, prompting Mr Silva to challenge a system he says has failed his family and so many others.
"I've been on the front line for the past decade, since my uncle was tragically taken and brutally taken by this system. Throughout my fight, I've stood alongside many families. I've witnessed the evidence of their loved ones being taken by this brutal system," he said.
The newly introduced Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has seen restrictions be placed on "public assemblies" for up to 90 days following a terrorism incident - legislation put in place following last year's Bondi attack.
Last week, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon extended protest restrictions another 14 days, with Sunday's rally being the only protest affected by the extension.
Activists, including Mr Silva, have condemned the restrictions - with Sunday's rally speakers describing the laws as undemocratic and aimed at silencing resistance.
"Now we come up against New South Wales Police, New South Wales Government, implementing protest laws, trying to silence movements, trying to silence our freedom of speech, whether that be Indigenous movements or whether that be any other movements, we have a right to congregate, to protest, to rally," said Mr Silva.
"I'm not an advocate, that's what they titled me to be. I'm a grieving nephew who lost an uncle who won't give up fighting for the justice and accountability he deserves... I'm here to fight for my uncle, for everyone else that I've witnessed being taken by the system and being brutalised."
Following Mr Silva's speech was Mr Hampson Snr, father of the late Ricky "Dougie" Hampson Jr, who passed away after a fatal misdiagnosis - a death the coronial inquest found as "preventable".
"It'll be five years in August, on the 16th, when he passed away, and we're still waiting for justice," Mr Hampson said.
"I just don't get this country and how they can treat us, Aboriginal people, in this way. 238 years of racism, murder, genocide, rape - that's disgusting. And you get these politicians that want to get in there, line their own fucking pockets and do nothing. They stay in there for their term, they get their pensions for the rest of their life, and they move on. The next one comes in."
Mr Hampson said his son's death reflects a wider systemic failure, arguing that racism is entrenched across the institutions responsible for care and accountability.
"Systemic racism plagues this country and all its institutions. And you know, we say the institutions, that's just the building. It's the racist people inside these institutions that are making these decisions, and that's what needs to change," he affirmed.
Greens NSW representative Sue Higginson voiced her condemnation of the NSW Government's handling of Indigenous deaths in custody.
"We are saying enough is enough. Black deaths in custody last year - we have never, ever seen the rate so high. We are not closing the gap," she said.
"The gap of injustice in NSW is widening...I cannot emphasise enough how awful it has been the last two years watching Chris Minns and those minions in his cabinet roll through some of the worst, most draconian racist laws this state has ever seen."
She further criticised the lack of appropriate governmental response, describing a conversation with NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris, after she questioned him about the state government's lack of action regarding Indigenous justice.
"He said, Sue, things might have to get worse before they get better," she alleged. "It is disgraceful, folks, it is disgraceful. This government has no shame about how racist their laws are."
The government's continued inaction and the ongoing rise in Indigenous deaths in custody have strengthened her resolve to march on January 26.
"We will resist. We will march...this invasion day is one of the most important invasion days of our lives, because the gap is not closing, it is widening," Ms Higginson.
"Injustice is higher and brighter and more awful than we have seen in a long time, and we will stand together in defiance of the anti-protest laws, because this is the year where we win and we turn it around and we put First Nations justice as the most important thing we do this year."
Mr Gibson also urged attendees to attend on January 26 - emphasising that showing up together is the only way to challenge the protest ban.
"We're not enough here to overturn the might of the New South Wales Police, but on the 26th of January, Comrades, we must fill this park. It's all of our jobs to go away from here today and say, 'Where are you going to be on the 26th of January?' to your friends, to your family, to your colleagues," he said.
"You're going to be in Hyde Park. And you're going to send a very clear message to the police commissioner and Chris Minns, and this is our message to you, police commissioner. Chris Minns, if you dare extend this protest ban, we will defy it en masse."
Mr Gibson warned: "We will break the ban."
"Keep your ban as far away from the 26th of January as you possibly can, or you'll see it in tatters on the floor where it belongs, like all the other racist laws that you have on the books. So that's very loud and clear for any representatives from the government or the police listening," he said.
"Do not come near the 26th of January with that ban. Or you'll find out what you found out in June of 2020, and that's that it's the power of the people that will carry the day, and it's the resistance of First Nations that is the spearhead that must inspire us all the way that they care for the land."
He continued, warning that the system and its institutions are designed to stifle resistance and silence calls for justice and true accountability.
"David Dungay Jr said, I can't breathe, and we didn't get justice. We've just seen Kumanjayi White killed in Alice Springs six months ago. What was he saying as he was pushed to the floor by undercover police? He was saying, I can't breathe as well," Mr Gibson continued.
"The system suffocates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It suffocates us all. We cannot continue to stand for it."
Following the speeches, Mr Silva directed protestors to march through the Domain "following all laws and traffic rules, with crossing with the Green Man".
"So I'll walk up, and we'll push the button, and we'll try to cross over lawfully, as we would civilians. If you receive a move-on direction, please do obey and don't put your own safety at risk," he announced to the crowd.
Crowd movement was promptly met by police, who immediately issued a move-on order to protestors. The crowd resisted briefly before dispersing, with protestors chanting slogans such as "We'll be back" as police attempted to disperse the crowd.
January 26 protests have been organised across the nation.
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