Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following contains images and mentions of deceased persons.
It’s always the kids that get you at events like this. Tottering little children, squalling or laughing in the silence. Blissfully unaware of, and thus defying, the horror of what we are gathered to commemorate. There are a scattering of these kids at the Thornbury vigil for the alleged murder of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy Cassius Turvey in the huge crowd spilling back past the street junction of Clapham and Watt, backing away from the Aboriginal Advancement League building into suburbia.
The crowd is so big, and pushed back so far from the speakers, that to hear, attendees must play the live stream on their phones. The varying levels of delay create an eerie sensory echo, as the words of unbearable hurt and unbelievable strength — from members of Turvey’s family, community leaders and local men Cassius’ age, delivered through halting speeches and haunted songs — ricochet around the head, the word “child” landing like a bomb each time. There are similar vigils for Turvey all over Australia and beyond.
The horror of what is alleged to have happened to Turvey may end up being a turning point. It has elicited two things that no similar death — say, the death of Elijah Doughty — previously has; it got a major newspaper to unequivocally call it what it was: “there are those who seek to dismiss Cassius’ killing as just another tragic act of violence. It is not. That there was a racial element to this attack is clear. To minimise that just allows racism to root deeper into our society. We must name it to face it.” Even more significantly, the prime minister did the same.
So maybe this will lead to some kind of true reckoning. Maybe the alleged murder of an Indigenous child as he was walking home from school in Perth’s outer suburbs will give us some exigent knowledge of who we actually are, of what a settler-colonial society is capable of, and why. Maybe this greater clarity from media and politicians will bring about some kind of change.
All I could think about was that kid. Somewhere between one and two years old, his jumper a knot of white and green and gold pearls. He never stopped. That teetering gait, bouncing through the crowds, followed an apologetic but quietly amused woman. He talked and squealed throughout, pawing at invisible playmates and toys in the air, his eyes lively and restless as candle flames, a small shock of concentrated life. The man lifting him to his shoulders kept silent himself, his smile was subdued, but never once told the kid to be quiet.
Correction: This article originally referred to the vigil being in Northcote, but was corrected to Thornbury.
I have missed the actual reporting that indicates this was primarily a racial attack.
How do we know that it was? Do we know that it was? It’d be a pretty racist reduction to pigeon-hole a murdered Indigenous child as a pantomime prop for yet more conspicuous Whitey virtue-signalling about First Nations Oz…before we were sure race was the driving causal factor. IMHO.
Why did Crikey censor earlier comments suggesting we not jump to conclusions? Surely not simply to help ensure First Nations Australians stay obediently ghettoised in their ongoing role as noble savage victims to Bad Urban Whitey, so that Good Urban Whitey has a continuing (pain-and-effort free) moral project to work on in its leisure time, and chat about at its dinner parties?
Are we sure yet that this was a race hate murder?
Is a ‘race hate’ murder different to plain, common-or-garden murder?
Reportage is that a 21yr old man has been arrested which seems odd given that there was a ‘carload of men’ were allegedly involved.
NFD.
Not until we deliberately, cynically, shriekingly make it do, I guess.
This murder may well have been racially motivated. We just don’t, I think, know yet. But I suppose that it doesn’t really matter either way now. As far as the weight of public discussion goes – from the PM up – C_ T_ ‘was’ murdered simply because he was Blak. Personally I can’t think of a more dehumanising posthumous reduction to foist upon a 15 year old kid’s memory. But that’s soft pap prog ID pltx for you. 🙁
Let’s see what the circumstances tell us.
Witnesses reported what the man said.
Hi ElCee, my reply is in moderation – hopefully it’ll get up. Best regards.
Censor away, Crikey. It’s a white flag.
Strange, I thought that there was another page of comments.
I distinctly remember that yesterday there were at least half a dozen comments which have now disappeared down the memory hole.
Winston Smith is working overtime.
That was some beautifully evocative and quietly powerful writing Mr Lewis. It’s a hard job to match such a topic, but you managed it today. Thank You.
“So maybe this will lead to some kind of true reckoning. Maybe the alleged murder of an Indigenous child as he was walking home from school in Perth’s outer suburbs will give us some exigent knowledge of who we actually are, of what a settler-colonial society is capable of, and why. Maybe this greater clarity from media and politicians will bring about some kind of change.”
Let’s hope so Charlie, let’s hope so. It certainly feels like this is an important inflection point in the reconciliation process, although the circumstances are heartbreaking.
The dignity and goodwill of the Turvey family is amazing.
Good point Legal Eagle “the dignity and goodwill of the Turvey family is amazing.”
Minimisation and look over there, where’s your empathy for the case at hand?