Thread by @IndigenousX

Last night, I talked about going back to my homelands for the first time in 3 years. Now, I want to talk a little bit about living in Naarm 30 years. I admit, I love living in a city of 5M, even if I need my homelands to ground myself. This one is gonna be a thread, so here goes

I have some incredible trail blazers and freedom fighters which have come from my own family, and include my own nanna, Uncle Charlie, my Tjamu Randall, my dad and his "go home Bjelke-Petersen. We don't need more peanut politicians in the Territory", and many more 2/?

That said, I have always felt incredibly privileged to live amongst Vic mobs who are staunch AF and get out there on the streets. Whether it's the WAR mob organising solidarity protests against the forced closure of WA communities or for shutting down Don Dale 3/?

, or it's Yorta Yorta Native Title fight, or the Djab Wurrung trees, deaths in custody rallies or the gigantic Invasion Day rallies, etc. There are so many incredible community activists down here & without naming them all, I want them to know that they inspire me every day 4/?

I want to take this moment to acknowledge the passing of Gooniyandi warrior, Naarm dweller & "angry black woman" Vivian Malo this week. She was always out there taking direct action & setting an eg for others to follow. My respect to her family & nearest: sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2…

The above was 5. This is 6/?

This brings me to the namesake of the seat I am running in, William Cooper. As we move forward to yet another Invasion Day, the time is ripe to reflect upon the legacy of this incredible man. abc.net.au/news/2018-11-1…

I sometimes wonder if, back in 1938 when he, Jack Patten, William Ferguson and others were organising the Day of Mourning protest to coincide with the 150 year anniversary of colonisation, whether they thought we'd still have to be marching 84 years on... 7/?

I also want to acknowledge Cooper's example of showing global solidarity. His private citizens' protest against Kristallnacht has been recognised globally yet it was certainly I was never taught about at school. His stance against fascism remains relevant to this day 8/?

There is all the above and so much more, but every day I am so incredibly thankful to VicMobs for letting me live here, protest here, work here and for being so generous and inspirational when it comes to community and activism. 9/9

Typo in 8 - "it was certainly not something I was taught about..."