June 16, 2007
Issue
The 50th anniversary of the 1957 Palm Island strike was marked by a "very emotional" commemoration on June 15, Indigenous activist Gracelyn Smallwood told 91̳ Weekly. She said up to 4000 people took part. Among the activities, relatives of the seven men and their families who were handcuffed, chained and removed at gunpoint from the island spoke about the violation of their human rights. The strike was triggered by a system that meant every Indigenous person on Palm Island had to work for 30 hours per week while being paid only in rations.