Brewarrina riot facts for kids

The Brewarrina Riot happened on 15 August 1987 in Brewarrina, New South Wales. It was a very important event in Aboriginal history and how different groups of people got along in Australia. It also had lasting effects for many years.

More than 150 Aboriginal people gathered on the town's main street. There were confrontations with police and some damage to buildings. This happened because a local Aboriginal man, Lloyd Boney, had died while in police care.

The riot was a result of long-standing tensions in the area during the 1980s. People were concerned about how Aboriginal people were treated by police. This was happening just before a big investigation called the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was announced on 10 August 1987. The event and the legal cases that followed were widely reported in the news.

What Was the Brewarrina Riot?

The Brewarrina Riot was a significant event that took place in a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It involved a large group of Aboriginal people and police. The event lasted for about half an hour.

Why Did It Happen?

The main reason for the riot was the death of a local Aboriginal man named Lloyd Boney. He died while he was in police care. This event brought out many strong feelings and concerns that had been building up for a long time in the community.

There had been ongoing tensions between Aboriginal people and the police in the area. People were worried about how Aboriginal people were being treated. This was a time when the media was paying a lot of attention to these issues.

The Royal Commission

Just before the riot, a major investigation was announced. It was called the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. A "Royal Commission" is a special, high-level inquiry set up by the government. Its job was to look into why Aboriginal people were dying while in police care. The Brewarrina Riot happened just five days after this important investigation was announced.

What Was the Aftermath?

After the riot, there were legal cases involving some of the Aboriginal men. These cases took a very long time, about five years. The events and the legal process were covered a lot by newspapers and other media. Different news reports sometimes showed the events in different ways.

Why Is It Important?

The Brewarrina Riot is seen as a very important moment in Australian history. Many experts have studied it to understand its meaning. It showed how Aboriginal people were seeking more control over their lives and how the Australian government was responding.

One expert, Barry Morris, said that the Brewarrina riot was a "switch point." This means it was a moment where different groups argued about how Aboriginal people's independence and political power were changing within Australia. Another researcher, Roderic Pitty, pointed out that the riot was much shorter than some records stated. He also suggested that the reasons for some of the convictions in the legal cases were not very strong.

The Brewarrina Riot remains a key event for understanding race relations and Aboriginal rights in Australia.