Following is an abridged version of the last media conference given by black US activist LORENZO KOM'BOA ERVIN, before he left Australia on July 24. Following a government attempt to deport him, Ervin was able to continue his tour, sponsored by Angry People.
What's happened to me is what happens routinely to blacks and other people of colour in this country. I've talked to Aboriginal leaders in all the cities I've been to, and a lot of people have expressed that this is a racist country, a violent country and that they have no rights.
I was only here for a day or so before I was labelled by the conservative politicians in Queensland and also by the media as this "terrorist" who has hijacked several planes, who had brought guns and violence to the Aboriginal people and who was inciting terrorism, racial ferment, etc.
This whole affair has been driven by the media; certainly the Sunday Mail and Channel 7, which irresponsibly editorialised what I said and attributed wholly false statements to me.
What happened to me showed the rest of the world how intolerant this country is; how, in fact, its human rights record is no better than the country it defeated to get the Olympic games, China; how it doesn't have a democratic process to the degree that it postulates to the world.
There were people all over the world who had heard me speak and took action to demand that I be released and allowed to continue my tour.
An ultimatum has been issued [by the Immigration Department]. I'll leave under protest and saying that the original action/prosecution brought against me was politically motivated.
The government knew months in advance that I was coming, and complaints were made by Australians Against Further Immigration to the Immigration Department. I've been a scapegoat in this affair.
I can't prevent my further incarceration, and although I've got my rights, the reality is that the power of the state has stripped me of whatever remaining rights I have to remain here to speak and meet with other Aboriginal peoples.
[The government] don't want to issue a formal deportation order because of the international furore that would erupt. But they can accomplish the same thing behind the scenes.
This matter was motivated by racism to a large degree. From the beginning, the officials have looked at this as a case of a black man first, and a person who'd been a member of the Black Panthers. I've never shot and killed whites, but I've certainly fought the KKK, and I don't apologise for that. The KKK is a racist, terrorist organisation, which has now come to Australia.
I intend to take legal action against the Australian government's attempts to prevent persons from having access to the High Court or any other court outside of the regulatory authority of the Immigration Department. And I am one of those working on the boycott of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The Olympics were awarded to Australia over China because of a better human rights record. But is this so?
Here is a list of crimes by the white racist regime: the mass murder of millions of Aborigines and continued theft of their lands; the rise of Pauline Hanson, who is against Asian immigration and the rights of Aborigines, and her One Nation party; the deaths in police custody of numerous Aboriginal persons; one of the highest levels of police shootings of civilians in the world and a reputation for police brutality; no policies for civil rights or liberties, including lack of tolerance for freedom of speech or unpopular/controversial persons.
Because of this we call for the creation of a Boycott 2000 Coalition to create a worldwide protest against the Sydney games, and especially an economic boycott. We call on all persons who believe in human rights and oppose racism to join us in this protest.