MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 31 July
It is with a heavy heart that the ALS acknowledges the passing of Wiradjuri man and towering figure in the fight for Aboriginal justice, Paul Coe. On behalf of all at the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and to all those who knew him.
"Paul was a life-long campaigner for Aboriginal justice who played a pivotal role in establishing the ALS, and was a well-respected Aboriginal peer who people looked up to," said ALS Chairperson Keith Morgan.
In the 1960s and 70s a band of Redfern activists, inspired by the American Black Power movement, committed themselves to fighting back through protest, advocacy, and legal support to defend against racist actions by police. This group of staunch leaders-in-the-making included Paul Coe.
Paul and others started monitoring and recording the everyday experience of police brutality and harassment, building a database that could be used to demonstrate the problem and lobby for justice.
Out of this movement the ALS was born, and Paul continued to play an important role in the ALS until the late 1990s.
“An inspiration and a fearless leader, Paul was a well-respected Aboriginal man that people looked up to as an uncompromising advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights. He leaves a legacy at the ALS that is unquantifiable,” said Mr Morgan.
ENDS
Media contact:
Alyssa Robinson [email protected] 0427 346 017
