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18c Case: Cindy Prior

My name is Cindy Prior an Aboriginal woman in Australia from the  Ballardong/Wadjuk peoples located in the South West of Western Australia region.

As an Aboriginal woman my professional duties have been disregarded and I have been biasedly represented by the Australian news media outlets and publications.

In May 2013 I was employed as an Administration Officer at QUT in the Oodgeroo Unit. The unit provides student support and resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) students.  On 28 May 2013 comments where posted on a Facebook page, the comments where racist, discriminatory and critical towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students having their own “room”.

The comments where a result of me asking 3 non-Indigenous students who came into a computer lab reserved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, to access resources on campus elsewhere. The computer lab and resources at the Oodgeroo Unit are specifically provided to ATSI students and is funded by the Australian Federal government through the Indigenous Support Programme (ISP), to enable Australian universities to offer student support services to ATSI students, such as scholarships, tutorial support and safe culturally spaces to learn.

Some of the comments that where posted on the Facebook page were;

‘Equality for Indigenous students, for example, would not be giving them a room away from everyone else.  That implies two things: They need extra resources because they have special needs; and they can’t study around people who are not like them. It’s not exactly
flattering.’

‘By [that] logic it’s also fine to start a KKK Klub.’

‘How did the aboriginal gentleman gain entry to university? … Through the window. Sorry I had to say it.’

"nobody should get their own f#cking room. But if I was aboriginal the first thing I would do would be to take photos of myself enjoying the computer lab and post it
all over stalkerspace "

"his wife had to save an (aboriginal) infant from the tribe as they were going to eat it since they believe it was giving them bad luck".

Unknown to me there was a discussion on the same Facebook page seven days before the incident about certain groups of people having their own room on campus. Comments made reference to the KKK, burning crosses and wearing white sheets on campus.

“we could start a society that only allows white people in...we could dress in bedsheets and burn crosses”

“I just hope that you'll understand that there are people who want this room” The KKK want their group and their spaces, and they fund themselves too. Doesn't mean they're in the right"

I lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission and the matter ended up in the Federal Court, were I lost my case under the Racial Discrimination Act 1984 . I am now faced with court costs to the amount of $14,780 (but not limited to). I am reaching out to people from every path of Australia as well as people from around the world to gain your support financially as I cannot afford to pay the costs, because throughout this litigation I have been on Workcover and Temporary Incapacity benefit before securing a traineeship position. Over this period of time the loss of a income has affected me greatly financially.

Since the media coverage of my case I have faced further racist attacks on me personally, with many people wanting me maimed, injured or bankrupted .

“Just kill her problem solved”

“wrap that black bitch in plastic and sink her in the sea”

“bankrupt this black bitch”

Another wrote 'this black c*nt has set back the constitutional amendment - remember that Prior".

On and on comments went....one demanding my ovaries to be torn from my body and burned so that I could never breed.

From - Riley Shore - studied at Marion M. Graham Collegiate who personally messaged me

“I just want you to know you're a racist bigot and should be held accountable for your racist bigotry.  Instead of you flashing a victim card while discriminating against individuals on the basis of their race, why don't you take a step back and realise what a hypocrite and unbelievably racist piece of shit you are c*nt.  F#ck you.  You need special treatment because you cannot take responsibility for yourself as an individual.  Anyone giving you special treatment is just practicing soft bigotry of low expectations.  They expect you to be a leech, you f#cking c*nt.”

There are many posts describing me as a 'abo” “nigger” , “coon”, as an Aboriginal woman in Australia I was seeking justice for not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but all people that have been discriminated against and treated unfairly. I believe strongly that racism has no place in our society and that we should be able to go about our business without being subjected to racism.  Please support me in my fight against racism which is not my fight alone but for all who are brave enough to say 'racism stops with me'  . 

Please listen to this podcast by 2SER Just words Prior v QUT which gives a balanced perspective on my case .

It's a case that asks more questions than it answers. In 2013, three non-Indigenous students walked into an Indigenous computer lab. What happened next nobody could have predicted. The court documents tell you that the case was Cynthia Prior against the Queensland University of Technology and three students. But the media conducted their own trial, and put the Human Rights Commission on the stand.

http://www.2ser.com/programs/just-words-stories-from-18c/item/28000-prior-v-qut

18C complainant reports ’racist’ online abuse to federal police.  The woman at the centre of a controversial racial discrimination case in Queensland talks exclusively to SBS about how she's been under sustained attack.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/12/15/18c-complainant-reports-racist-online-abuse-federal-police

Organizer

Cindy Prior
Organizer
Carlisle WA

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