Charles Perkins and

the freedom rides

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By Leila
Who is Charles Perkins?

Who he was:
● Charles Perkins was born in Alice springs 1936
● A gifted soccer player
● An Aboriginal Australian activist
● First Aboriginal man to graduate from university

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What did he do?

Charles Perkins:
● Created SAFA (Student Action For Aboriginals
● Raised awareness of discrimination
● He was at the forefront of advocating for the
1967 Referendum.
● The SAFA students protested in Walgett
● The SAFA students went in the Only Whites
swimming pool in Moree

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The Protest in
Walgett
● The Freedom Riders protested outside the
Walgett RSL Club on 15 February 1965
● SAFA's arrival to the rural town of Walgett marks
the first account of non-violent demonstrations by
the students.

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What happened in
Moree?
● The Freedom Riders arrived in Moree
on 19 February 1965.
● Aboriginals were prevented from
entering the Moree baths and pools.
● The Freedom Riders were allowed in
the pools on Anzac Day

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 What inspired
Charles Perkins?
Charles perkins was inspired by the
US civil rights activist Martin Luther
King.

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What is the
Freedom Rides?
The Freedom Ride of 1965 was a journey
undertaken by a group of Aboriginal
Australians in a bus across New South
Wales, led by Charles Perkins.

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 What was the end
result?
● The freedom ride movement
resulted in the 1967 referendum to
remove discrimination against
Aboriginal people from the
Constitution.
● The 1967 referendum was a huge
step towards reconciliation.
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 Bibliography
Information
● https://www.sydney.edu.au
● https://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1033/
● https://theconversation.com/
● https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Perkins
● https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/national/moree-baths
● https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/explainer-what-was-australias-freedom-ride/yag6hqm2r
● https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/national/moree-baths
Photos
● https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/explainer-what-was-australias-freedom-ride/yag6hqm2r
● https://notice.aenetworks.com
● https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety
● https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/dr-perkins-and-1965-freedom-ride