Teen’s death sparks wave of violence in town torn by race, drugs and crime

[AndrewJin]

I've been to Kalgoorlie from Perth by the 60-80km/h Prospector train...
It's a very isolated goldmine township where the super pit is located...
From my experiences, the colonial township was full of deserted houses and shops...

http://enews.smedia.com.au/theaustralian/TranslateArticle.aspx?doc=NCAUS/2016/08/31&entity=ar00119


The Aboriginal boy whose death sparked a violent race-fuelled protest in Kalgoorlie-Boulder had battled to overcome family problems in an outback town awash with drugs and crime, his grandfather said.

The Goldfields town was on edge last night after glass walls were smashed at the court where a 55-year-old man accused of the manslaughter of Elijah Doughty, 14, was due to appear, and police officers were pelted with bottles and rocks.

Officers in riot gear clashed with more than 200 people who gathered outside the courthouse, with some later carrying a banner reading “All Lives Matter”, invoking the Black Lives Matter activist movement that arose in response to police killings of African-Americans in the US.

Elijah was found dead in bushland on Monday by police responding to an accident involving an allegedly stolen motorbike and a Nissan Navara utility in Boulder.

The motorbike had been reported stolen the previous day by the utility’s owner.

Elijah’s paternal grandfather, Albert Doughty, last night recalled a sporty, happy child who stayed positive through difficult circumstances, including his unwell mother’s frequent absences.

Relatives and friends said the boy spent little time at school since being suspended this year. Mr Doughty and the boy’s maternal grandfather Edward James told The Australian that Elijah’s mother was currently in prison.

Mr Doughty, 68, said Elijah had lived with him since he was eight years old until he recently moved back with his father.

“Identifying my grandson’s body was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do — it broke my heart to see him there, mowed down from behind, lying there still with his little hat on.”

Mr Doughty said life for young indigenous people had “gotten worse” in the 16 years since he began working at the region’s indigenous medical service. He blamed drugs including marijuana, speed and ice, which he said children were buying with lunch money.

An aunt of the boy, who was a talented footballer, told the Kalgoorlie Miner his death was the third in the family in recent weeks and relatives were reeling from the tragedy. “(Elijah) survived all circumstances he found himself in and was a beautiful brother to the sisters he protected,” the aunt said. “He was a very happy-go-lucky kid — he was never a bad kid.”

Protesters yesterday shook open the gate at the entrance to the court on Kalgoorlie’s main street and smashed windows, after being told they could not enter the court’s public gallery. They chanted “justice” and demanded the manslaughter charge be upgraded. In a statement last night, police said the charge was based on evidence available at the time and it would be a matter for the court to consider.

As Aboriginal elders attempted to calm the crowd, police used pepper spray to force angry protesters away from the court. About 12 officers suffered cuts and abrasions. One needed stitches after being hit in the head by a bottle.

Five police vehicles were damaged by protesters jumping on them and breaking windows.

Police said “several” people were taken into custody over the violence. The crowd dispersed by afternoon but last night hundreds of people were expected at a vigil to mourn the dead boy at the scene of the fatal collision.

A total ban on takeaway alcohol sales was implemented in Kalgoorlie-Boulder ahead of the vigil. Police Acting Superintendent Darryl Gaunt said some local residents had inflamed the situation by posting Facebook messages calling for vigilante action against local youths.

“The Facebook posts and some of the social media in relation to this has been disgusting and racist and targeted at certain elements of the community.”

Superintendent Gaunt said Elijah’s family had tried to calm the crowd during the protest. “The victim’s family have supported our decision making ... they were trying to move the mob on and speak to them and calm them down and it wasn’t working,” he said.

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder acting mayor Allan Pendal said he had seen nothing like yesterday’s uproar during 28 years in the Goldfields town. He acknowledged racial tensions existed in Kalgoorlie, but said they had diminished over time.

The accused man will appear in court via video-link from Perth today after yesterday’s hearing was adjourned. Kalgoorlie police have worked to build a rapport with indigenous people. Indigenous pastor Geoffrey Stokes said officers’ immediate response to the boy’s death appeared prompt and appropriate.

But local Aboriginal mistrust of police goes back decades.

In 2005, after a local Aboriginal boy threw himself into the path of a moving car in an apparent suicide attempt, police charged him with wilful damage of the vehicle.

A year later local police used a new state race-hate law — brought in to deal with neo-Nazi activities in Perth — to charge a 16-year-old Aboriginal girl who called another girl “a white slut” and kicked her.

Magistrate Kaye Auty found the white girl had provoked the other girl and her companions.

@ahojunk @Gibbs

 

[Economic superpower]

Australia following America's lead.

 

[AndrewJin]

Australia following America's lead.

The racial tension in Australia is underreported, mostly covered by local corporate media controlled by News Corp and Fairfax... And now, the newly elected conservative and One Nation MPs are gonna abolish 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

 

[TaiShang]

There is an undercurrent going on in Western societies - especially those of colonizer and those of the products of colonization of indigenous lands.

This is potentially a dangerous current because, historical experience shows that, when their very existence (perceptibly) is challenged, the West tends to turn to fascism.

In the 1930s, Western turn to fascism was catastrophic because the West was in the pinnacle of its power with no alternative order in existence. Hence, the war spread like a wildfire and claimed so many lives.

Currently, a turn to fascism will likely result in Western isolationism as there are alternative order(s) being made, OBOR being one of them. These orders can counter the Western alternatives.

The negative experience will be most felt by the minorities in those Western countries that are deemed not Western/one of us.

On the positive side, this might also lead to a speeder brain-re-gain for the countries which has historically sent out bright minds to the developed West.

@Sinopakfriend

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

There is an undercurrent going on in Western societies - especially those of colonizer and those of the products of colonization of indigenous lands.

This is potentially a dangerous current because, historical experience shows that, when their very existence (perceptibly) is challenged, the West tends to turn to fascism.

In the 1930, Western turn to fascism was catastrophic because it was in the pinnacle of its power with no alternative order in existence. Hence, the war spread like a wildfire and claimed so many lives.

Currently, a turn to fascism will likely result in Western isolationism as there are alternative order(s) being made, OBOR being one of them.

The negative experience will be most felt by the minorities in those Western countries that are deemed not Western/one of us.

On the positive side, this might also lead to a speeder brain-re-gain for the countries which has historically sent out bright minds to the developed West.

@Sinopakfriend

My dear brother,

In all honesty I will sit in the plane today and fly to China with my family...if the right opportunity avails itself.

Anyhow, I am waiting for my day!

Coming back to the subject matter at hand here...Racism is very deelply rooted in the West...perhaps in all humanity..just look at some asian countries in your neighbourhood..

I have been seeing the rise of Fascist forces for sometime now... I believe in one of your discourse I underlinded my fears of rise of fasicst forces in Asia...

What is happening now is slow motion movement towards the inevitable.. no way the West can maintain its global leadership and by this fact control over global finance which was the core reason of western wealth after the 70s.

Now real wealth is vanishing and houssehold incomes have sharply fallen. Middle class in the West has shrunk and is shrinking..eg. a 47% of italian are living on welfare..and France is reaching the traget sooner than later.

Somebody, needs to get the blame...for now the blaming is happening towards China.. it happened in all election cycles...but now its widespread. It is going to gain more strength I fear.

On domestic front someone needs to gain the blame...it is going to beminorities of colour and asians. I fear more ugliness to come..

When global power shifts it brings with itself a lot of turbulance...on all fronts.

China has been very prudent and wisely guiding this process of West to East transition without beating chest or boasting. In fact China is showing humility which many Chinese brothers see as appeasement.

But current hegemon is bent on retaining the global empire along with old allies and some new allies to our South.

So yes, Fascism is on the risse again. We might be confronted with it in our neighbourhood.

China must avoid conflict unless/untill its core sovereign interests are not respected. Certain red line can not be crossed by no one.

 

[gambit]

Racism is very deelply rooted in the West...perhaps in all humanity..just look at some asian countries in your neighbourhood..

And there is no racism at all among the Asians.

 

[Cossack25A1]

And there is no racism at all among the Asians.

Though I am no longer offended when someone will say "I am not Asian".

 

[gambit]

Though I am no longer offended when someone will say "I am not Asian".

Only if you use a particular brand of laundry detergent. Wash that blackness awayyyyy...

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

And there is no racism at all among the Asians.

On the contrary...it is sad human condition..I believe I mentioned it in my post.

It is about the scale, systematic implementation and duration in time. In this West has the leadership sadly.

If your recall there was the stuffed body of a black woman on display in Paris in the early 20th century.
They took it away because it looked not proper in the changing times.

But sad truth is it is pervalent in varrying degrees in Asia too.

Have you seen how many black africans have been killed and severly beaten in india?

Yet also the TRUTH is that many white people have fought this menace with their lives in the West!

 

[AndrewJin]

There is an undercurrent going on in Western societies - especially those of colonizer and those of the products of colonization of indigenous lands.

This is potentially a dangerous current because, historical experience shows that, when their very existence (perceptibly) is challenged, the West tends to turn to fascism.

In the 1930s, Western turn to fascism was catastrophic because the West was in the pinnacle of its power with no alternative order in existence. Hence, the war spread like a wildfire and claimed so many lives.

Currently, a turn to fascism will likely result in Western isolationism as there are alternative order(s) being made, OBOR being one of them. These orders can counter the Western alternatives.

The negative experience will be most felt by the minorities in those Western countries that are deemed not Western/one of us.

On the positive side, this might also lead to a speeder brain-re-gain for the countries which has historically sent out bright minds to the developed West.

@Sinopakfriend

In Australia, One Nation returns to the Senate after their "riot" in 1990s when their target was on Asians.
Now, their aim is to have a royal commission on Islam!!! And also, stop "overfunding" Aboriginals, abolish 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act for the sake of "free speech", etc....The west is actually starting to remove their hypocritical face....All Asians and Muslims will have harder and harder time in the West.....For Indigenous people the situation is even worse. Though, it's so amusing to see, so many non-whites from the poorest countries in PDF are actively depending their white masters.....They have no shame faking their white identity and white ideology.....Hilarious

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

In Australia, One Nation returns to the Senate after their "riot" in 1990s when their target was on Asians.
Now, their aim is to have a royal commission on Islam!!! And also, stop "overfunding" Aboriginals, abolish 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act for the sake of "free speech", etc....The west is actually starting to remove their hypocritical face....All Asians and Muslims will have harder and harder time in the West.....For Indigenous people the situation is even worse. Though, it's so amusing to see, so many non-whites from the poorest countries in PDF are actively depending their white masters.....They have no shame faking their white identity and white ideology.....Hilarious

Mental slavery is the worst kind.

 

[Cossack25A1]

Only if you use a particular brand of laundry detergent. Wash that blackness awayyyyy...

I love my Tide laundry detergent.

Anyways, there is racism everywhere and anywhere, yet certain group of people present themselves as "tolerant" despite their posts here are definitely racist in tone and instead focus more on racism issues in other countries like Australia which has its own racism issues.

 

[TaiShang]

On the contrary...it is sad human condition..I believe I mentioned it in my post.

It is about the scale, systematic implementation and duration in time. In this West has the leadership sadly.

If your recall there was the stuffed body of a black woman on display in Paris in the early 20th century.
They took it away because it looked not proper in the changing times.

But sad truth is it is pervalent in varrying degrees in Asia too.

Have you seen how many black africans have been killed and severly beaten in india?

Yet also the TRUTH is that many white people have fought this menace with their lives in the West!

It is more political than purely racial, in my opinion, my friend. It is irrational fear that is strongly grounded on declining anticipation and prospects for sustainable material wealth.

Fascism is always about material, not race, although, it may use race as a smoke screen.

The industrialized West enjoyed greater access to global wealth at the cost of declining life conditions of others. Now, the sight of losing the privileges of owning a big home, of enjoying big menus, owning cars, receiving good quality health care, releasing huge emissions to the atmosphere, controlling and shaping global political and cultural discourse, and monopolizing science and technology create serious fear.

The sight of losing these privileges and the apparent success of the rest (like China) that have always been regarded (almost culturally under the Orientalist-scientific garb) backward is not easy for the generations that have been accustomed to the inherent acceptance and mental comfort of superiority.

China had a similar experience from the 18th to the mid 20th century.

But, the frustration led to, after a certain experimental period, a progressive, egalitarian and emancipatory revolution in China.

In the West, historically, frustration led to fascism (not necessarily racism because fascism fed on its own weak, as well, regardless of racial similarity such as, in Italy, the syndicalist workers' movement was crushed).

If fascism is racist, its racism is defined by class, not the color of the skin. Again, in Italy, it was North vs. South.

That's why, this time it may turn on its own weak and less protected, that is, the minority. Not necessarily because of an inherent racism, but because of the trauma created by the sudden loss of wealth and of anticipation for sustainable prosperity and good life.

@Chinese-Dragon , @CAPRICORN-88 , @xunzi , @Dungeness

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

It is more political than racial, in my opinion, my friend. It is irrational fear that is strongly grounded on declining anticipation and prospects for sustainable material wealth.

Fascism is always about material, not race, although, it may use race as a smoke screen.

The industrialized West enjoyed greater access to global wealth at the cost of declining life conditions of others. Now, the sight of losing the privileges of owning a big home, of enjoying big menus, owning cars, receiving good quality health care, releasing huge emissions to the atmosphere, controlling and shaping global political and cultural discourse, and monopolizing science and technology create serious fear.

The sight of losing these privileges and the apparent success of the rest (like China) that have always been regarded (almost culturally under the Orientalist-scientific garb) backward is not easy for the generations that have been accustomed to the inherent acceptance and mental comfort of superiority.

China had a similar experience from the 18th to the mid 20th century.

But, the frustration lead to a progressive, egalitarian and emancipatory revolution in China.

In the West, historically, frustration led to fascism (not necessarily racism because fascism fed on its own weak, as well, such as, in Italy, the syndicalist workers' movement was crushed -- the Gramsci experience).

That's why, this time it may turn on its own weak and less protected, that is, the minority. Not necessarily because of an inherent racism, but because of the trauma created by the sudden loss of wealth, prosperity and good life.

@Chinese-Dragon , @CAPRICORN-88 , @xunzi , @Dungeness

Agreed. The underlying thought was in the context of the thread.

Fascism is colaboration of corporate and the state where everything else becomes subservient...if it does not reconcile with the thrust of the fascist forces then violence and oppression ensues.

Now if the above observation be true then where do we find ourselves today in the West?

I will leave to individual imaginations...

Plato was utterly right about Democracy...and its logical evolution. This is what is a display here before us...

 

[xunzi]

The West needs to put their words and mouth to good use and provide better incentive and human rights to the native population and minorities.