"We fight it together. We're in it together."
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That was the cry of Dubbo's Lionel Wood as he addressed hundreds at a Black Lives Matter rally at Victoria Park on Sunday.
The large crowd heard about the experiences Aboriginal members of the community had faced, from their own times in incarceration to fears for their children. Non-Aboriginal community members also showed their support, addressing their own white privilege.
Joanne Carr spoke about her son'e death in custody in 1981. In her emotional address to the crowd, while her son's portrait was held high, Ms Carr said she had bottled up her feelings since that day and hoped the rally would finally allow her a chance to let some of them go.
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Ms Carr said she was now worried about her grandson, who was in and out of jail.
"I joined a funeral fund because I thought one day he'll go to jail and come out in a box," she said.
Mr Wood also spoke of a relative who died in custody: his uncle Lloyd Boney who died in Brewarrina in 1987.
He said there was still no justice for his family.
"All I can say is, if you've got any children, you bring them up the way they're supposed to be. You teach them the right way, you walk that straight walk, you fight that great fight. They're watching you, they're walking in your footprints," Mr Wood said.
"I've got two little boys myself and I'm worried about when they grow up.
"What have I got to do to show them they an go in any shop, they can go in any street and feel welcome on their own land, in their own town? That's what I want, that's what I want for my boys, that's what I want for all of you."
Mr Wood said everyone was gathered to acknowledge that it wasn't only their skin colour that mattered, but their voices too.
Keith Toomey also expressed concerns for his sons, aged 19 and 21.
"I get fearful when I think about what could happen if they ever have any interaction with the police, because I've seen what does happen," he said.
He urged people to act if they wanted to see change.
"It's up to each and every one of us as individuals to engage with each other. If we do nothing, we can't sit and whinge about what continues to happen," he said.
"If we don't do anything about it now, nothing will change."
Doris Shillingsworth said she expected racism to be around for a long time. But she encouraged everyone to "teach our people how to stand up and be proud of who they are".
A moment was also taken to acknowledge Stephen Lawrence and Felicity Graham for successfully appealing the Supreme Court's ruling that the Sydney Black Lives Matter protest was not authorised.
"It was my privilege and honour to be involved in the court system [on Saturday] and let that matter go ahead. And stop the police having an excuse to arrest people," Mr Lawrence said.
"To me, the truth that comes out of that movement, and comes out of everyone being here, is that for too long our criminal justice system, the way that we arrest people, the way that we sentence people, the way that we jail people, is harming people.
"It causes trauma, it causes mental ill health and it causes death. That's what this movement, as far as I can see, is all about."