Joyce Clarke
Indigenous woman Joyce Clarke, 29, was shot dead by police officers from Perth, Australia.
On September 17, 2019, police officers were responding to reports of a woman brandishing a knife. A witness said he saw Ms. Clarke walking down the street holding a knife in her hand, when a police car began driving slowly alongside her, talking to her out the window. Police told her to drop the knife, before she allegedly lunged at a police officer who shot her once in the stomach. Ms. Clarke died in hospital a short time later.
The incident sparked racially charged protests outside the Geraldton Police Station. Clark’s family and friends demanded to know why police drew their firearms instead of deploying a taser or other non-lethal method to subdue her.
On 15 April 2021, a group of 15 families have launched a petition calling on the Prime Minister to meet with them and set out their 10 demands to help the families of the victims restore justice and improve the lives of Aboriginal people. Clark’s family also joined the petition and said they want justice for her.
MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:
“There will not be any cover-up or skimming over facts. This tragic event and loss of life demands and does require a full and complete investigation and that is what will take place,” WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said.
“As far as I’m concerned this whole thing has taken far too long, six months of trauma, heartbreak this family has had to endure,” the family spokesman Sandy Davies said.
CASE STATUS:
The initiative group has requested the clarification from Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, Attorney-General of Australia Michaelia Cash and Minister for Home Affairs of Australia Karen Andrews. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal and financial assistance to the family of the victim.
