The Family Of Aboriginal Teen Want Police Officer Charged Over Violent Arrest
"(We) cannot explain our anger and frustration."
The family of an Indigenous boy who was taken to hospital after a violent arrested are calling for the officer involved to be charged.
The 17-year-old was in a Sydney park with friends on Monday when he got into a verbal argument with police.
After being told he was under arrest the boy complied with the officers’ directions, turned around, and stood still with his hands behind his back. The officer then kicked the boys legs out from under him, causing his body to slam into the ground.
This afternoon the family told a press conference the police officer’s actions were unacceptable.
“This is not unacceptable — no child should ever have to feel targeted.”
The family of Indigenous teen slammed to the ground by a NSW police officer in Surry Hills say his arrest was ‘dangerous and uncalled for.’ @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/5rTYb0L3BR
— Nakari Thorpe (@nakarithorpe) June 3, 2020
“The use of excessive force was unnecessary … this police officer must be charged,” his sister said.
“(We) cannot explain our anger and frustration … if he had fallen any other way, he could have been injured much worse.”
NSW Police confirmed yesterday an investigation is underway. However, the NSW Police Commissioner has already faced a huge backlash for trying to excuse the officer’s actions by saying he “had a bad day“.
Police Minister David Elliott was also slammed for saying he was just as disturbed by the teenager’s comments to police as he was by the police’s response.
A viral video of the boy’s arrest shows part of an argument, which ended with the boy saying: “I’ll crack you across the jaw, bro“.
I’ve had plenty of bad days before but I never beat someone for talking back to me
— alea iacta est (@TGracchvs) June 3, 2020
That’s not a bad day that is police brutality
— TP (@TPMelb) June 3, 2020
Today the boy’s sister said the way Aboriginal people are “brutalised” was frightening.
The boys father spoke of his anger, and how the incident stirred up memories from his own life. His mother described her son as a “typical teenage boy”.
“Because we’re Aboriginal … We experience extra obligation to answer to people — who we are, where we’re going and what we’re doing, when we’re just walking along,” she said.
“I’m his mother, I don’t think that he should be made to feel like he’s in a prison that’s made up of the whole world.”
The boy was taken to hospital with minor injuries, and later released without charge.
After the press conference the family took a knee in solidarity with protestors in the US.
Feature Image: Twitter/ @nakarithorpe