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Lyall Munro - Spokesman for the Hickey family and the Redfern 'Block' community

9 March 2004 - Media Release - The Block Community - Mr Munro on behalf of the Hickey family and the "Block" community of Redfern today called on the Aboriginal community and their supporters across Australia to unite and support the demand for a National Royal Commission to examine police mistreatment of Aboriginal youth Australia-wide.

The over-policing and harassment inflicted upon our young people and our children by police are a regular part of our daily lives. Mr Munro called on all Aboriginal people of NSW to support the Redfern community in the defence of our children, by joining us when we march to Parliament House on Wednesday the 24th March to present the Parliament with the Community's demand for a National Royal Commission.

Mr Munro also asked that Aboriginal people across Australia take up this issue and - in solidarity with the "Block" community – march on every Parliament House in Australia on the 24th March, demanding the immediate establishment of a National Royal Commission into the current policing of Aboriginal youth. He said, the police had to be made accountable for their actions when they ignore the human rights of Aboriginal youth in their brutal mistreatment of them.

Every Aboriginal parent and child in this country knows the fear of daily police persecution, because we have all experienced it. It is the sad reality of Aboriginal and police relations in Australia, and every Aboriginal mother knows that it could easily be one of her children chased, charged and thus criminalised for the rest of their lives next time.

Source:The Block Community

Lyall Munro, 70, has had a political career stretching over half a century.

He has been actively involved in several milestone events of modern Indigenous history.

These include the 1965 Freedom Ride through NSW, the establishment of the Tent Embassy in Canberra and formation of the Aboriginal Legal Service and Aboriginal Medical Service.

He was also involved in the development of Linkup, the National Aboriginal and Islander Legal Service (NAILS), national Aboriginal education and radio and the NSW Land Trust and Advisory Councils.

Lyall has also been prominent on the world stage.

He led a delegation to the 10th General Assembly of the National Indian Brotherhood and also attended the 2nd General Assembly of the World Council of Indigenous People, both in Canada.

At the time he was the sole Aborigine sitting on the World Council and he played a role in ensuring the 3rd General Assembly was held in Canberra during 1981.

He's been married to his partner Carmine for 53 years. They have 12 children, 53 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Lyall is still active and is now serving in his third year as Chairperson of ATSIC's Kamilaroi Regional Council.

Source:ATSIC

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