Rallying cry taken up by town as Albany steps out for Black Lives Matter protest

As thousands of Australians took to the streets in capital cities in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, a crowd of about 500 people met in the heart of Albany on Saturday to take a stand against racism. Led by a group of teens from the Albany Community Youth Leaders Group, people of all ages gathered on York Street with hand-painted signs and Indigenous flags to protest against Aboriginal deaths in custody and racism on home soil. Cheered on by Noongar elders and a vocal crowd, the teens took to the stage to share their experiences of racism. Albany student Tinotenda Chiware, 14, shared her story of migrating to Australia from Zimbabwe and the bullying she endured from classmates because of the colour of her skin. “I have always been the only black girl in every school I have been to,” she said. “I remember spending an hour in the bathtub when I was six years old scrubbing and scratching wondering why the dirt wasn’t coming off. “To any black girl in the crowd today, out in the country today, out in the world today — black is beautiful. “I will not be silent until everyone realises the reality of Black Lives Matter.” Jarrad Inman, 19, said he was sharing his experience because he was “fed up”. “The Indigenous people of our lands are in a constant struggle ... 432 Australians have died in police custody since 1991,” he said. “We are told to sit down and shut up because we are making people uncomfortable but maybe it’s time to be a little uncomfortable. “Australia has a dark history ... but by calling out racist people and systems, and standing strong in the belief that we are in this battle together, we can make a brighter future for the next generation. “I didn’t choose to be born Aboriginal but I am damn proud to be.” Speaking after the protest, Tony Niyongabo, 16, said the BLM protests had spread around the world for good reason. “You can’t say racism is not happening in Australia which it is — even in a small place like Albany,” he said. “I think it was important to bring the movement here.”