Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dads stand united in twitter campaign #Indigenous Dads in response to Bill Leaks cartoon.
Alec Doomadgee from the Waanyi, Garawa and Gangalidda people in the Gulf of Carpentaria is a proud father who joined Joel Bayliss' twitter movement #Indigenous Dads. The campaign was a response to the cartoon published by Bill Leaks in the Australian Newspaper on The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day.
The timing of the cartoon took the spotlight from the real issue of the treatment of First Nations children in the Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre.
Bill leaks justified the publication of the cartoon by saying that it shows the reason why the children were in custody in the first place was that of their parents.
Speaking with SBS Living Black Radio - Alec Doomadgee said he was proud of all the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander men that took part in the campaign and that Leaks behavior in creating the cartoon, demonstrated an example of how people should not behave.
After widespread condemnation on social media, Leak responded by saying his critics were "sanctimonious Tweety Birds having a tantrum."
Rod Little, the co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, maintained the cartoon was racist telling the ABC that the cartoon was offensive and that the defense was typical of ingrown prejudice and racism throughout this nation.
Bill Leaks released his cartoon on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, a day that is celebrated across Australia each year on 4 August. The event is seen as an important time to for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to celebrate the strengths and culture of their children and an opportunity for all Australians to show their support for Aboriginal children, as well as learn about the crucial impact that culture, family and community play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
http://aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/what-is-childrens-day/
