Darce Cassidy (1941- 2019) campaigner for social justice, independent media, and Indigenous rights
Who was Darce?
‘Darce was one of the voices of reason …with a welcoming smile for a newbie. I admired him for debating ideas, not people as individuals.’ Greg Segal 3CR
LACK OF MEDIA DIVERSITY AND TRUTH – a threat to democracy
From the 1990s on, Darce focused his attention on the rise of cash book journalism, where sensationalism is valued more than truth. As the right wing media gobbled up small independent outlets, Darce threw his energy into campaigns for editorial independence and adequate funding for Australia’s two public broadcasters ABC and SBS.
THE FREEDOM RIDE: When visiting his country cousins as a child, the highlight was the Saturday matinee show. At the segregated Moree picture theatre, Darce saw racism first hand. Later, as a student at Sydney University, Darce took part in the 1965 Freedom Ride, protesting against racism in outback New South Wales. These protests became headline news across the nation. In 1965, the ABC refused to broadcast Darce’s disturbing audio documentary, 1965 Freedom Ride.
In the years following the Freedom Ride, academics and others began uncovering the flawed and hidden history of the brutal, bloody displacement of Indigenous people from their tendered homelands throughout Australia.
ANTI-VIETNAM WAR PROTESTS: Darce was involved in the Anti-Vietnam War protests of the late 60s and took the side of the Viet Cong.
FOREIGN BASES IN AUSTRALIA: Darce was one of the organisers of the 1974 Long March to North West Cape in West Australia. The march protested against the establishment of a US-controlled military base at North West Cape.
Darce scripted and narrated this film about the Long March to North West Cape.