Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

Written By Sandy Boyce on July 20, 2021

This is from Common Grace (July 2021) – a campaign about Aboriginal Deaths in Custody:

In light of the tragic news of a 10th Aboriginal Death in Custody since March this year, we are asking you to pledge your commitment to learning the names and stories of Aboriginal people who have died in custody, to pray without ceasing and to act to see change.

TJ Hickey

Mr Ward

David Dungay Jr

LJR

Kumanjayi Walker

Ms DhuTanya Day

John Pat

Cameron Doomadgee

Wayne Fella Morrison

Brooke Prentis, I can’t breathe (2018, released in 2020)

Together we mourn over the at least 479 Aboriginal Deaths in Custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles and beloved children.

Here’s what we are doing together this week to #LearnPrayAct:

Photo pledge

Take a photo of yourself with two hands out in front of you, 10 fingers representing the 10 Aboriginal Deaths in Custody since March 2021. Upload the photo, pledging your commitment to learn, pray and act to #StopAboriginalDeathsInCustody.

Upload your photo and pledge your commitment here

Then share your photo on social media with your pledge:

Today I lament the 10th Aboriginal Death in Custody since March 2021, and the at least 479 Aboriginal people to die in custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. I commit to learning the names and stories, to pray without ceasing and to act to see change.
@commongraceaus #StopAboriginalDeathsInCustody #RememberTheirNames #LearnPrayAct

Prayerful Activity

Learn the names and stories of 5 Aboriginal people who have died in custody and learn about 5 recommendations from the Royal Commission that are yet to be implemented. Trace your hands on a piece of paper, and write the 5 names on each finger of one hand, and the 5 unimplemented recommendations on the other hand. Pray and lament as you take part in this activity. This can be done individually or as a group.

For guidance, access our Aboriginal Deaths in Custody resources here.

If you choose to share a photo of your drawing on your social media, tag @commongraceaus with hashtags: #StopAboriginalDeathsInCustody #RememberTheirNames #LearnPrayAct

For example:

Facebook Frame

Add this #StopAboriginalDeathsInCustody frame to your Facebook profile picture: click here to add Facebook frame

Thank you for your commitment to learn, pray and act to #StopAboriginalDeathsInCustody, as led by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders.

Yours in pursuit of Jesus and justice,

Bianca, Brooke, Safina and the Common Grace team

PS. Check out our Aboriginal Deaths in Custody resources page here for additional ways to #LearnPrayAct.

Common Grace
http://www.commongrace.org.au/