Clinton Pryor, who made it his quest to walk across the entire country in pursuit of justice for Indigenous people, finished his journey yesterday in front of Old Parliament House in Canberra, having walked a staggering 5,581 kilometres over the course of a year.
The Wajuk, Balardung, Kija and Yulparitja man began his walk almost a year ago in protest of the forced closure of Aboriginal communities. His goal was to meet with political leaders in Canberra at the end of his journey.
He walked seven million steps in his journey, and fought blisters, injury, harsh weather and the crippling loneliness of the road. He walked for around 12 hours a day, followed closely behind by a support crew in an old station wagon who carried supplies and messages from supporters.
The toughest part of his journey, Clinton says, was arriving in Kalgoorlie and attending the funeral of 14-year-old Elijah Doughty, who was run over and killed by a man who was later found not guilty of manslaughter.
Speaking to a group of several hundred supporters after a corroboree at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Clinton called for justice.
“We’re all here today because we want justice to be done for our people once and for all,” he said.
“I have walked across this country for over 11 months and a bit and I have seen the injustice happening to our people,”
“We’ve been fighting for our rights for 50 years and fighting for survival before that. For 129 years we’ve been fighting the system,”
“When these people come out on Tuesday and Wednesday, do not be ashamed to speak from your heart.”
Clinton has called upon Malcolm Turnbull to sit down and meet him on Tuesday. “Sit down and for once to actually listen,” he said. “Because every time we try to get things done for our people, it’s always their way, the politics way.”
