‘Freedom Riders' In Australia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 13

‘Freedom Riders' In Australia

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, February 16.

Several country former servicemen’s clubs today threatened to take action against a busload of student “freedom riders” if the students tried to enter the clubs.

The students are reported to plan visits to Moree, Lismore, Kempsey and Taree to protest against discrimination against aborigines. The students, members of the Student Action for Aborigines Council, were involved in an incident outside Walgett, 450 miles north-west of Sydney, last night. A bus carrying 30 of them was reported to have been forced off the road by a truck after they left Walgett. While they were in Walgett they picketed the servicemen’s

club and a frock shop there. Later they were asked to leave a church hall where they had stayed the previous night. The leader of the students is Charles Perkins, aged 29, a part Aborigine studying arts at Sydney University. At Taree, 230 miles north of Sydney, a member of the servicemen’s club said today: “Mates and I won’t stand any nonsense from the students.” ‘Will Guard*

He said: “If they picket us. we’ll guard our place. Most of us would know a bit about this sort of thing, too.” At Kampsey, a servicemen's club official said the police would be called in if necessary.

He said: “There are quite a number of aborigines here but no discrimination.” At Moree, a steward in the servicemen’s club said: “There could be trouble if they come here—a few punch-ups if they get cheeky.”