Today as many around the world voice their support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the USA, we’re reminded that it’s been almost 30 years since Australia’s Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody but that incarceration rates have increased to be more than for Americans, more than 400 people have died, and no police officers convicted of those deaths in custody.
Standing in solidarity for the US protestors is not a spectator moment for Australia, actual solidarity means also addressing our issues at home. It’s been a long while since our work with Heaps Decent, so we’re choosing now to show our support by donating to two initiatives in our neighbourhood of Surry Hills, aimed directly at reducing incarceration rates: ANTaR , and Just Reinvest whose justice reinvestment program in the town of Bourke has shown to be effective in reducing imprisonment rates by a redirection of funds from prisons into early-intervention initiatives.
In addition, for the month of June 2020, on behalf of our community and supporters we will be donating all income from our Sample Packs.