Grata Fund condemns the targeted act of violence against First Nations People and their allies peacefully protesting in Boorloo (Perth).
We stand alongside First Nations People in Boorloo, and across the country, many of whom are feeling scared, shocked and sitting with deep heaviness from the attack.
First Nations People, Elders, families, babies in prams and people in wheelchairs gathered peacefully to stand together in strength and community, and mark a day of mourning when a bomb was thrown into the crowd of people.
The bomb was filled with screws, nails and ball bearings and designed to explode on impact.
It was a targeted act of violence against First Nations Peoples, their allies and peaceful protest.
WA Police have described it as a "potential mass casualty event".
Fabian Yarran, Organiser of the Invasion Day rally said, “This incident must be fully investigated as an act of terrorism and a hate crime against First Nations People and protesters, and appropriately charged as such. The police, government and media response in the 24 hours following the incident has been inadequate, comprising solely of investigations and charges for less serious, non-terror and non-hate offences.”
Following calls from First Nations communities, allies and some politicians, the WA Police, AFP and ASIO announced they would investigate it as a terror attack.
Grata Fund calls on:
- The WA Police, ASIO and the AFP to investigate this attack as a hate crime, as well as a terror offence.
- The WA Police Commissioner to urgently meet with the rally organisers.
- The Federal Government to expand the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into anti-semitism to cover all forms of racism and far-right extremism.
- The Federal Government to endorse and implement the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework, tabled in 2024.
All targeted attacks of violence against groups based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, political opinion and other protected attributes must be met with justice equally.
All communities experiencing racism and hate crimes must be treated with the same gravity by our media, governments, police and security agencies.
From Bondi to Boorloo, we stand in solidarity with all groups targeted by hate crimes.