On the 13th of October 2022, kind and gentle 15-year-old Cassius Turvey was viciously attacked with a metal pole by men who were unknown to him, while he was walking home in his school uniform. They incorrectly presumed he was the person responsible for breaking windows in the neighbourhood.

A few days later, Cassius was placed in a medically induced coma and on 23rd October, this very loved teenager passed away.

From Mum, Mechelle Turvey:

“The answers I want is WHY?” 

1.      “A complete statement was not taken by the police from Cassius after the violent attack and there was no contact with me, his mother. Why? It takes a loss of a loved one to get proper duty of care an investigation. I feel that as mum, I should have been kept in the loop about the statement. The statement was incomplete, it was vital. Cassius was talking at the hospital and should of have taken his full statement but never did.” 

2.      “I want kids to embrace community without fearing community. I want to see memory and legacies of Cassius. I want everyone to encourage everyone to be savvy and start getting video evidence if they are about to be attacked, or something. In and out of schools, youth violence has escalated. We must reduce this and evidence gathering by other children, who are too frightened to intervene, not delay calling authorities. Children should be educated to contact teachers and authorities immediately.”

3.      “The Governments need to invest in eliminating youth violence. It is mandatory that there are significant investments in youth centres, in programs where ‘kids matter’ and work on building with lost youth on self-esteem gaps.”

4.      “There must be significant awareness about bullying and that we need funded, “mentoring.” You can’t just put up a poster about bullying, you need mentors.”

5.      “I want a “kids matters” program that instils empowerment in my Midland community. We want these kids matters programs to begin in Midland where a significant proportion of the population are Indigenous, which will hopefully spread across the country at pace for lost and troubled young souls. They need mentors to do the journey with them.”

I’m a proud Mineng Noongar woman who has worked with the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community. I’ve seen firsthand the effects of the criminal justice system on the lives of our people. We need better police response so our children and youth can be lifted up and empowered. They need to believe the system will work for them and care for them.

This kind of violence is not new to us. I’ve worked with First Nations leaders in the community are worried for the safety of Aboriginal children and teenagers. It is appalling to hear comments from the Police Commissioner that Cassius “was at the wrong place at the wrong time” after hearing from the victims that they were racially abused in the attack.

It’s like telling us Aboriginal people that we don’t know what racism and racial lynching is. Every child deserves to walk back home safe.

Please sign this petition to stand with Cassius’s heartbroken family and community and support them in their fight for justice.

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You can donate directly to Cassius's family via this GoFundMe or chip in after signing to help grow this petition
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You can also join a vigil in your city to stand in solidarity with the family.

A candlelight vigil has been planned for 5:30 pm at Midland Oval on October 31. The vigil coincides with Halloween, which organisers said was Cassius’ favourite holiday.

A vigil has also been planned on November 2 at 6:00 pm at Sydney Town Hall. 

Newcastle/ Awabakal: A candlelight vigil has been planned at Civic Park on November 2 at 6:00 pm.

Adelaide/ Tarndanya: A Show Up and Stand Up! event has been planned at Victoria Square on November 2 at 6:30 pm.

Brisbane / Meanjin: Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance have organised a candlelight vigil for Cassius Turvey at King George Square on November 2 at 7:00 pm.

Darwin / Garramilla: A vigil for Cassius has been organised at Rapid Creek Bridge on November 2 at 7:00 pm.

Canberra / Ngunnawal: There will be a vigil for Cassius at The Aboriginal Tent Embassy on November 2 at 6:00 pm.

Alice Springs / Mparntwe: Intervention Rollback Action Group have organised a solidarity vigil at Alice Springs Court House on November 2 at 7:30 pm.

Broome / Rubibi: A Justice for Cassius walk and candlelight vigil will take place at Broome Courthouse on Wednesday 2 November at 6:30 pm.

Bunbury / Coolingnup: Yaka Dandjoo Events have organised a vigil at Graham Bricknell Music Shell on November 2 at 9:00 pm.

Cairns / Gimuy: A solidarity vigil will occur at Cairns City Library Lawns on November 2 from 8:00 pm.

Wagga Wagga: A candlelight vigil will take place at Ngurra Hub on November 12 at 5:30 pm.

Townsville / Thul Garrie Waja: Action for Change has organised a Cassius Turvey march for justice at The Strand on November 2 from 11 am.