Great Australian Speeches: Jack Patten's Day of Mourning protest opening address

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this recording contains names and words of deceased persons. John Thomas 'Jack' Patten was an Aboriginal Australian civil rights activist and journalist. The President and co-founder of the Aborigines Progressive Association, he was a brilliant speaker, one of the best of his era. In this role, Patten organised the 1938 Day of Mourning protest, and presented Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, with his and William Ferguson's manifesto Aborigines Claim Citizenship Rights. This is Jack Patten’s Opening address to Day of Mourning protest, 26 January 1938 at Australia Hall in Sydney read by Mark Coles Smith.