International political activist and Hollywood star Danny Glover has shined the spotlight on Indigenous constitutional reform while in Australia.
The American actor, best known for his roles in film The Color Purple and the Lethal Weapon film series co-starring Mel Gibson, spoke out in support of the' Uluru Statement From The Heart' at a Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) event n Sydney on Thursday night.
The Uluru Statement calls for the establishment of a ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution and a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to supervise a process of ‘agreement-making’ and ‘truth-telling’ between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Mr Glover told the gathering that for any justice to be achieved the truth must first be told.
“If we can’t tell ourselves the truth about our past we become trapped by it," Mr Glover told the meeting of union members.
“We have to support the Uluru statement from the heart and we have to work to find the ways of justice. No justice no peace," he said.
The 72-year-old actor also spoke of the importance of using the unions as "allies" to achieve change.
“Unions have always been allies in our struggles for justice. We have to find our allies not only to build but to change and to bring our First Nations people into our struggle for justice.”
MUA NT Branch Secretary and Zenadth Kes man Thomas Mayor praised Mr Glover for his support and vowed to "stay the course" until the change Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders want and need are achieved.
Mr Glover will campaign for the issue of workplace rights when he speaks at the Australian Council of Trade Union Congress in Brisbane next week before returning to New York.
