The People's Record

In 2020, 9 public housing towers were put into strict, police enforced lockdown. At the time, Idil lived in a neighbouring public housing estate and had deep connections with many of the people who were suddenly trapped inside. Reem shares stories of organising from inside the lockdown. Idil speaks with Gunnai and Gundtijimara woman, Meriki Onus and Yamatji woman, Crystal Mckinnon about solidarity and community resistance of racialised communities during this time.

Present day, The Victorian Government announced it will demolish 44 public housing towers in Inner Naarm. The same towers that have been policed through racial violence. The community resists losing their homes. Idil speaks with Housing and Anti-Racism Researcher, Priya Kunjan.

Idil talks to a mix of guests about policing of the flats in the mid 2000s, when VicPol’s Operation Molto which targeted Young African Men was uncovered. Daniel Haile-Michael is the lead named plaintiff in a class action run by Flemington Community Legal Centre against Victoria Police for racial profiling. The community’s hope that things will change.

Idil speaks with community organiser, Reem from Imara Advocacy and Storyteller, Sister Zai about The People’s Hearing into Racism and Policing.  This community forum at Melbourne Town Hall was run by Imara, a group of young African women who set out to document the community’s experiences of policing outside of the system. By creating space for people to share their experiences, they sought to give the community language to name and understand racial profiling.

Idil is joined by ‘Ahmed,’ ‘Musab,’ Reem, Ilo Diaz, Crystal McKinnon, Charandev Singh and Tamar Hopkins, to explore growing up and community in the flats; first experiences of policing; histories of racialised police violence in so-called Australia; and traditions of community resistance.