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key indigenous australian issues
| home | news lKu Klux Klan 'threaten shanty town'By Robert Mancuso 1January 2005 - Police are investigating an alleged lynching-style raid on an Aboriginal shanty town near Townsville by white men claiming to be members of the Ku Klux Klan. Up to 30 men in seven cars reportedly drove into the community for homeless Aborigines on the city's outskirts early on Tuesday morning, threatening to string up the residents. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service principal solicitor Kevin Rose said yesterday he had been told the raiders, some described as looking like skinheads, threatened to move into the camp and "bash the lot of you";. They also ordered the residents to move back to nearby Palm Island, the scene last month of violent rioting following the death in custody of local man Cameron Doomadgee. On learning of the death, a mob of islanders set fire to Palm Island's police station. Mr Rose said none of the men involved in Tuesday's alleged raid wore the traditional KKK-styled hoods or robes and it was not known whether they were armed. "They were saying 'We're the Ku Klux Klan" he said yesterday. "[residents] have concerns that these things might develop into something more serious". Mr Rose, counsel for the accused Palm Island rioters, said he would be contacting the Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission next week. Earlier this month, graffiti appeared on walls around Townsville, demanding Palm Islanders "go home" and denigrating Aborigines. Swastikas and references to Adolf Hitler were also painted on a nearby warehouse. Acting Senior Sergeant Jim Scanlon said a "cross-cultural liaison officer was following community complaints". But he said it was difficult to act on them because the incident was not reported promptly. "It probably did happen - but six or seven cars I find that hard to believe," he said. Sen-Sgt Scanlon said it was the second reported incident of its type at the shanty town last year, but no-one had ever been attacked. Transient indigenous groups camping in the area have frequently complained about such attacks. Source: Brisbane Courier Mail related links :
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