A rally starting at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre on Saturday aims to draw attention to the case of Kempsey man David Dungay Junior, who died in custody at Long Bay jail in 2015.
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“We just want justice for David,” said the Dunghutti man’s mother, Leetona Dungay.
David was 26-years-old when, on December 29, 2015, a team of guards removed him from his cell in the mental health ward of Long Bay jail.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported in January this year that the cell extraction was triggered by a packet of Tim Tams David was eating, with guards potentially worried about the complications they could cause for his diabetes.
In the ensuring extraction, David, who was being treated for schizophrenia, complained he couldn't breath.
He was relocated to another cell equipped with CCTV and injected with a sedative.
He died shortly after.
Nearly a year and a half later, Leetona is still frustrated about the lack of information surrounding her son’s death.
We just want some answers about what happened to David
- Leetona Dungay, David Dungay Jnr's mother.
“We just want some answers about what happened to David,” Leetona said.
Family and supporters of David have previously rallied in Kempsey, as well as protesting at Long Bay jail last year.
Leetona said she wanted to draw attention not only to her son's case, but to all vulnerable people in custody across Australia and the world.
“World-wide, it happens in every jail to all different nationalities, not just here,” she said.
Leetona’s confident of a strong showing at the rally, with two busloads of supporters scheduled to make the trip from Sydney.
“We’ve had great support so far, lots of family support and support from Sydney,” she said.
A bus will pick up supporters throughout Kempsey on Saturday morning, starting at Burnt Bridge at 9am, before going to South Kempsey at 9.30am, North Street in Kempsey at 10am and Greenhill at 10.30am.
The rally will arrive at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre at 11.30am, but in the event of wet weather, it’ll start at the showground.
The group will then continue into Kempsey, starting at Elbow Street before marching to the Kempsey police station and court, before finishing at Riverside Park for a barbecue.
