MEMBERS of the Newcastle community joined a nation-wide action against incarceration of indigenous youth on Tuesday.
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Protesters also gathered in Darwin as the Royal Commission into youth detention in the Northern Territory got underway.
Newcastle organisers said the action was held to “highlight systemic racism”.
They have called for the abolition of youth prisons and for investment in community based support programs for children coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
They are also demanding an end to the forced removal of Aboriginal children by community services and the transition of decision making in child protection to Aboriginal controlled agencies, which are funded to support families in crisis.
The Royal Commission is being led by co-commissioners Margaret White and Mick Gooda. The commission will examine whether the treatment of detainees breached laws or human rights between the years 2006 and 2016, and whether more should have been done by the NT government to prevent such failings.
A final report is due to be delivered by the end of March 2017.
