Darwin community set to protest against the Police State
A large crowd is expected to gather outside the NT Parliament House in Australia today to protest against what they see as a Police State in the Northern Territory.
The demonstration has been organised by the Network Against Prohibition, a group of drug user activists and human rights activists who have come together to fight racism and oppression in Australia’s Northern Territory.
It will follow a roller-coaster of events for members and supporters of the Network Against Prohibition. In the 2 months since the Network was established, 11 people have been arrested by Police during peaceful protests.
The demonstration has been called to protest against the drug house legislation proposed by the NT Labor government. NAP activists have declared the “drug house” legislation as draconian and an attack on human rights.
The proposed legislation gives police the right to enter a property that has been declared a “drug house” as often as they like. People present at the “drug house” can be banned by Police and if they return they may face a prison sentence. This part of the legislation will be equally applied to people who live in the “drug house.”
NAP Coordinator Gary Meyerhoff said “the NT Police already have too many powers.” He described the proposed laws as racially motivated. The laws would be used against the indigenous community to further silence, marginalise and isolate them.
NAP has called on Darwin community members to join them in their struggle for human rights in the Territory. “We need heaps of people who are willing to come out into the streets and fight for their rights and who aren’t scared of being thrown in the back of the dibbie van.”
“We can live in a world without drugs, although that would be impossible to achieve, but we cannot tolerate living in a world without human rights.”
“The war on drugs is just another cover for the ongoing deterioration of our civil liberties. The war on drugs and the war on terrorism have been tarred with the same brush.”
The “drug house” legislation is being legislated at the same time that the ASIO laws are gliding through the Federal parliament.
NAP has joined forces with the Longgrass Association and People Against Racism in Aboriginal Homelands for the demonstration. Protesters will meet outside the Darwin City Council at 8.30am and will march to the NT Parliament house at 12 noon.
For further info or to arrange an interview contact Gary or Scott on 0415 16 2525.
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