Saturday’s ‘Freedom March’ in Byron Bay, promoted on social media, does not have the support of Bundjalung woman Delta Kay or the local police.
Ms Kay told Bay FM’s Community Newsroom that traditional custodians of Bundjalung lands object to the event’s promotion, particularly the usage of the Aboriginal colours on their poster, along with the term ‘freedom’.
‘When I saw the event flier I was really concerned that the organisers were being untruthful [as] to the reason why they were meeting on our traditional homelands here in Byron because [of] the usage of the Aboriginal colours on their poster and also the term ‘freedom’ which is a really big word for black people who have been fighting oppression for many, many years.’
Still ‘No’
Some are claiming event organisers now have permission from indigenous custodians to proceed. Delta Kay has again said: ‘NO, NO, NO’ and has been asked to notify Bay FM and The Echo herself of any change in this position.
Not approved
Byron police say they have not and won’t be approving the planned event and if it goes ahead it will be an‘illegal gathering’.
Others have traced origins of the event’s promotion on social media and have found direct links between it and misappropriation of images associated with recent #BLM protests.
The event is being promoted through various social media groups on the Northern Rivers.
Best that these “special” people, who want to protest, don’t get any publicity, just a history lesson from some elders of the health professions about Small pox, Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio. A large number of us wouldn’t be alive today without vaccines.
Delta WHO ?
What does this individual think her opinion means to anybody else ?
Freedom marchers are obviously loonies, just as the ‘black lives matter ‘ marchers are stupid and endangering themselves and the public. This is not a topic for some random person to approve or condemn.
Cheers, G”)
I don’t think you even read the article. She is one of the local custodians.
Ken, Delta believes her opinion matters….just like you do!
and you are right, it is not a topic to approve or condemn for any random person like you or me. loonies..stupid?
C’mon Ken, do better!
Ok Barry and Harrym,
I see what you’re saying, this Delta is an historical artefact that would have had some relevance two hundred years ago. Time moves on though, and in the real world every citizen’s opinion has equal weight in a democracy and ‘loonies and the stupid’ have equal right to an opinion (in fact I think they over represented in government) they should still be subject to the law and I believe it is a criminal offence to encourage these idiots to congregate and break not only the law, but any pretence of civic responsibility.
This fact, of course, renders Delta’s or anyone else’s opinion totally irrelevant.
AS far as the ANZACS go, Please remember these were ignorant country yokels who were delighted to have the opportunity to travel the world and defend British aristocracy, and certainly not human rights, this was at the height of blackbirding and slavery, there were NO human rights. It must also be remembered we still have no’ Bill of Rights’
Is that “better ” enough ? G”)
There has never been a more crucial time for society to be unified. Not every person believes the same thing and this is not a PRO vs ANTI debate but the loss of human rights and freedoms should be everyone’s concerns. Once gone, we may not get them back. Our ANZACS fought and died for our freedoms, we must honour them and their ultimate sacrifices.
I am really concerned how easily people that have a different opinion are being condemned as loonies or even dangerous individuals. I have the strong belief that we should learn to be tolerant of everyone’s opinion. Why is this protest for our civil rights called illegal? Why are gatherings inside up to 100 people legal but outside only 20 are allowed? Does this regulation make sense to you? Other than making public protest impossible? Maybe it’s time to think more critically. My family had to endure the Nazi regime of Germany in WWII and their stories sound exactly like today. They were also put under a state of emergency set of policies to ‘protect the public’ we all know how that turned out. The reasoning might be a different one but the methods have remained exactly the same.
I support Carly 🙏☮💙