Public voices multiplying on social media in support of remote Indigenous communities

Australians are speaking out in droves against the forced closure of remote Indigenous communities in WA, with tens of thousands of people voicing their support online.

Images posted to the Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia Facebook page. Source: Facebook / Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia

A Facebook page called Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia, already has over 39,400 Likes at time of writing, even though the page is less than two weeks old.

Its inception coincided with Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s comments in mid-March that living in remote Indigenous communities was a "lifestyle choice".

Images from the Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia Facebook page. Source: Facebook / Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia

Aboriginal Community-driven initiative sosblackaustralia, which is supporting Aboriginal communities to remain on their homelands and determine their own futures, is behind the social media movement.

The page is regularly updated with photos of national and international citizens holding signs that read: “Stop the forced closure of Aboriginal communities in Australia”, videos of verbal statements of support and protests around the country.

Image from Berlin to the Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia Facebook page. Source: Facebook / Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia

Abbott’s comment was made in relation to the Western Australian government’s flagged closures of 150 remote Indigenous communities.