Wollongong protesters will be standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in America when they gather at a peaceful rally on Sunday.
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The National Union of Students has organised a protest at Crown Street Mall amphitheatre at 2pm following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, which has sparked violent riots as people of colour fight for justice, equality and an end to police brutality.
Protesters will join calls demanding justice for George Floyd as well as for the more than 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died in police custody in Australia since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
"This isn't just an issue in America, however, we are also standing with Indigenous and people of colour Australians who are faced with violent racism from police and society everyday here," she said.
"The student movement has a long history of fighting racial injustice, not only do we want to draw attention to this issue and support the protests in the United States, we also want to fight against this behaviour on our own soil.
"It's important that everyone stands up and fights against racism in this country, and we're hoping that rallies like these show Australians that we can't look at the US and not at ourselves."
National Union of Students ethnocultural officer Vinil Kumar said the protests would demand justice for African American communities in the United States, Indigenous people in Australia and all other marginalised communities.
"We support the calls for police officers responsible for the murder of George Floyd, and the murders of all African American and Indigenous people in custody, to be charged and face punishment for taking Black lives," he said.
"We encourage supporters of racial justice to attend the protest and encourage attendees to observe appropriate social distancing measures to ensure the safety of themselves and others in attendance.
"We think it is vitally important for the strongest possible showing of international solidarity for those struggling for racial justice in the United States, and to demand justice for victims of police racism in Australia.
"Their struggle is our struggle. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Without justice, there can be no peace."
A NSW Police spokeswoman said Wollongong Police District was aware of the upcoming protest planned for the weekend.
"Public safety is the first priority when it comes to protest activity," she said.
"We support the rights of individuals and groups to protest peacefully, but not when it impedes on their safety and the safety of others. Unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated.
"Police are yet to receive formal notification of the NUS protest, and urge anyone planning a protest to speak with police to ensure there are no breaches of the peace and there is minimal impact to the community."
Under current public health orders, a person must not participate in a public gathering of more than 10 people.
