Inquiry into Aboriginal death in custody begins next week

Inquiry into Aboriginal death in custody begins next week

Aboriginal and LGBTI communities’ call for mobilisations outside Veronica Baxter’s inquiry to support her family, community and friends, in calling for justice

An inquiry into the death of Aboriginal, trangender woman, Veronica Baxter is to be held at the Glebe Coroner Court on Parramatta Road, Monday April 4th and 5th beginning at 10am.

Activist groups are calling for a mobilisation outside the Coroner’s court, at 9:30am to show anger at the injustice of Ms Baxter’s death, and to put police and prison officials on notice. Community members are able to be present at the hearing.

Ms Baxter lived as a woman for fifteen years before being arrested in Redfern, five days after Mardi Gras in 2009, and placed in Silverwater prison – an all male, maximum security prison in New South Wales. Why she was placed in an all male jail has not been answered. She was found dead, six days after being placed in the jail.

No information regarding her death has been given to her family, friends, Aboriginal or lesbian, gay, transgender or intersex communities.

A broad campaign calling for her inquiry included the Indigenous Social Justice Association, Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH), Sex and Gender Education (SAGE), Still Fierce, The Greens, Socialist Alliance, Socialist Alternative, and Queer Collaboration Conference 2010.

It is a testament to the campaign that the coroner has set an inquiry date for April 4-5 2011. But Veronica Baxter was found hung in her cell in March 2009. Why the delay in this inquiry? What is to hide?

Ray Jackson, spokesperson for the Indigenous Social Justice Association said “This inquiry will not bring REAL justice for Veronica Baxter or her family. It will be a whitewash. No police person or prison warden has EVER been charged with a black death in custody. Look at the tragedy of the Palm Island events, six and a half years and still no justice. For this reason, we need to be present to bear witness and protest the lies and cover-up that will ensue.”

Rachel Evans, from Community Action Against Homophobia said “we call on the community to bear witness and protest this horrendous crime committed against Veronica Baxter. Another black death in custody and brutalisation of a transgender woman in the Australian prison system. Come and show your anger.”

Meet Monday April 4th 9:30am Glebe Coroners Court, 44-46 Parramatta Road, Glebe.

Call Ray Jackson 0450 651 063 or Rachel Evans 9690 1977 for more informationwww.caah.org.au

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