Freedom Ride (Australia)

The Freedom Ride of 1964 and 1965 was a significant event in the history of civil rights for Indigenous Australians.

Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement, students from Sydney University formed a group called the Student Action for Aboriginals, led by Charles Perkins (the first Australian Aborigine to graduate tertiary education) among others, and traveled into New South Wales country towns on what some of them considered a fact-finding mission. What they encountered was "de facto" segregation; the students protested, picketed, and faced violence, raising the issue of Indigenous Affairs. They commonly stood protesting for hours at segregated areas such as pools, parks and pubs which raised a mixed reception among the country towns. Australia overwhelmingly passed a 1967 referendum removing discriminatory sections from the Australian Constitution and enabling the Federal government to take direct action in Aboriginal affairs.

At the time of the Freedom Ride in 1965, the Aboriginal people of Australia were not counted in the Census and their rights as citizens were regularly ignored; indeed they claimed that they were considered lesser human beings because of the colour of their skin, and treated this way as well.

Moree was the site of a violent conflict during the Freedom Ride. After a protest at Walgett an unidentified driver rammed the bus forcing it off the road. The incident made headlines in the Sydney Morning Herald and international media. Some reports compared the treatment of Aboriginals to the racism and segregation in America's Deep South. [cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Freedom-Ride-inspires-a-new-generation/2005/02/04/1107476802617.html |title=Freedom Ride inspires a new generation |accessdate=2008-02-18 |author=Daniel Lewis |date=2005-02-05|format= |work=Sydney Morning Herald ]

The first two towns they went to were Wellington and Gulargambone. Protest were not conducted there. Instead the locals were asked questions which affirmed perceptions of how bad discrimination against indigenous Australians was in rural areas. [cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/messageclub/duknow/stories/s888118.htm |title=Didj "u" Know - Stories: Freedom Ride |accessdate=2008-02-18 |author=Kezia Dawkins |date=2004-02-01 |format= |work= ] Other towns that were visited include Lismore, Bowraville and Kempsey.

The original Freedom Riders were: Charles Perkins, Gary Williams, Aidan Foy, Alan Outhred, Alex Mills, Ann Curthoys, Barry Corr, Beth Hansen, Bob Gallagher, Brian Aarons, Chris Page, Colin Bradford, Darce Cassidy, David Pepper, Derek Molloy, Hall Greenland, Helen Gray, Jim Spigelman, John Butterworth, John Gowdie, John Powles, Judith Rich, Louise Higham, Machteld Hali, Norm Mackay, Paddy Dawson, Pat Healy, Ray Leppik, Rick Collins, Robyn Iredale, Sue Johnston, Sue Reeves, Warwick Richards and Wendy Golding. [cite book | author=Curthoys, Ann | title=Freedom ride : a freedom rider remembers | publisher=Allen and Unwin | year=2002 | id=ISBN 1-86448-922-7]

In 2005 another ride was lead through New South Wales. Although the 2005 event focused on reconciliation, experiences of discrimination were reported and the poor housing conditions for some aboriginal people were noted. [cite web |url=http://www.greenleft.org.au/2005/616/35357 |title=Freedom Ride confronts racism |accessdate=2008-02-18 |date=2005-02-23 |format= |work=Green Left Weekly ]

References

External links

* [http://www.freedomride.net The Australian Freedom Rides]