This Friday, 6 June, marks exactly five years since the worldwide Black Lives Matter mass mobilisation, sparked by the murder of George Floyd who died after being held face-down, a knee on his neck, under the weight of a police officer.

Kumanjayi White died the same way. He stopped breathing while being restrained on the ground, with witnesses saying the police officer involved had a knee on his neck.

His family and community have called for an independent investigation, the release of all CCTV and body-worn camera footage to the family, and for police to stop publicly denigrating Kumanjayi White.

Read the media statement from Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of Kumanjayi White.

Now, just like in 2020, people across the country are taking to the streets to demand justice, accountability, and an end to police violence.

See a list of nationwide actions below. Senator Lidia Thorpe will address the crowd at the Melbourne action on Friday.

Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:

"Five years ago, the world rose up after George Floyd was killed. In this country, we marched to say Black Lives Matter, and to demand an end to the state-sanctioned violence our people face from police, and in prisons.

"Five years later, nothing has changed. A young Warlpiri man, disabled and under state guardianship, has died in almost the exact same way as George Floyd. Kumanjayi White should still be alive.

"He was hungry. He needed care. Instead, he was pinned to the ground by police inside a supermarket, a knee reportedly on the back of his neck. And now he’s gone.

"His family is devastated. And they are being met with disrespect from NT Police and ministers, and silence from the federal government.

"This is the same family mourning Kumanjayi Walker, who was shot by police officer Zachary Rolfe in 2019. The inquest into Kumanjayi Walker's death laid bare the racism in NT Police. Now the final findings are being delayed because of this latest killing. It’s trauma after trauma for our families, with no one ever held accountable.

"Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991, at least 595 of our people have died in custody, over 150 since the 2020 rallies. And not a single police or prison officer has ever been held criminally accountable. Not one.

"Ten of our people have died in custody just this year. That’s ten families grieving. Ten lives taken. Enough is enough.

"Kumanjayi White’s death is not an isolated incident, it’s part of a brutal system that targets and kills our people with impunity. Police are not above the law, but they can get away with murder.

"The Royal Commission handed governments the solutions over 30 years ago. Since then we’ve had mountains of coronial reports, royal commissions, and parliamentary inquiries all saying the same thing. But they’ve been ignored by every government, time and time again.

"Just like governments ignore the grieving families calling for justice and showing them the solutions. How many more families will have to beg for justice?

"The inaction we see is a political choice that sends a clear message to allow black deaths in custody to continue.

"Right now the least governments could do is listen to the family, implement a truly independent investigation, and release the footage. 

"This week we’re inviting this country to stop deaths in custody. Turn up, speak out, and stand with Yuendumu and the Warlpiri People.

"Enough is enough, we want justice."