Block protesters win round one

One hundred and fifty people gathered in the early hours of 7 July at the Redfern Tent Embassy to protest the Aboriginal Housing Company’s decision to bulldoze houses at the Block.

The Block is the legacy of Australia’s biggest urban land rights victory 40 years ago. The land was set aside for Aboriginal housing. Now the AHC wants to clear the ground for commercial developments.

Protesters hung banners from the surrounding buildings, which read, “Always was always will be Aboriginal land” and “Sovereignty never ceded”.

Mick Mundine, head of the AHC, could be seen talking to police officers all morning. When approached by Tent Embassy leaders and others, he refused to answer questions.

Mundine is the Noel Pearson of Redfern. Every year he apologises to the Redfern police about the annual march to commemorate the 2004 death, at the hands of police, of Aboriginal teenager TJ Hickey. He has sent goons on a regular basis to threaten violence against activists.

The police also constantly harass the Tent Embassy, which was established in May. Much racist and sexist abuse has been directed toward Aboriginal people here – in particular the Elders.

As the hours passed, it became clear that the demolition would not go ahead due to the strong turnout of people willing to use direct action to protect the dwellings.

The blockade at the Block will be ongoing. Our side has won round one – but this is far from the end of the matter.

[For more information visit the Redfern Tent Embassy Facebook page. Dave Clarke is a member of the Indigenous Social Justice Network.]