Commemorating Paul Coe, Indigenous Rights Leader

Commemorating Paul Coe, Indigenous Rights Leader

Remembering Paul Coe: A Pioneer of the Black Power Movement in Australia

Paul Coe, a Wiradjuri man born at Erambie Mission in Cowra, Central New South Wales, was a central figure in the Black Power movement in Redfern, Australia, during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His activism, inspired by the U.S. Black Panther Party, played a significant role in addressing systemic issues like police harassment, racism, and inequality affecting Aboriginal people.

Coe's activism began during the 1967 Referendum campaign, which aimed to include Aboriginal people in the census and federal laws. This was followed by community monitoring of police to deter harassment, using a form of "pig patrol" in 1969.

In 1970, Coe co-founded the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) in Redfern, which was Australia’s first Aboriginal-controlled legal aid service. The ALS provided free legal help in response to police oppression and discrimination faced by Aboriginal communities. This was part of a wave of community-controlled services that included medical, children’s, and housing services.

The same year, Coe was also involved in a solidarity march in support of the Gurindji (Wave Hill) strike, advocating for workers' rights and land justice for Aboriginal stockmen.

In 1971, Coe and other activists formed the Aboriginal Black Panther Party in Redfern, adapting international Black Power ideas to Aboriginal struggles for rights and self-determination.

Coe's activism continued to evolve, leading to the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972, a seminal protest for Aboriginal sovereignty and land rights. In 1976, Coe and Cecil Patten planted the first Aboriginal flag on the shores of England as a direct challenge to the doctrine of Terra Nullius.

Throughout his career, Coe served on the NSWALC's first interim council and was later elected its first treasurer after it became a statutory corporation recognized under NSW's 1983 Land Rights Act. In 2017, he was honoured through being one of the inaugural recipients of the NSWALC "40 Years Strong" Chairperson's Award.

Coe passed away on July 29, 2025, at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of activism and community service. His contributions to Aboriginal empowerment and recognition in Australia are significant and will be remembered.

References:

1. ABC News. (2025). Paul Coe, Redfern activist and lawyer, dies aged 76. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-29/paul-coe-redfern-activist-lawyer-dies-aged-76/132859124
2. NSWALC. (2025). Paul Coe. Retrieved from https://www.nswalc.org.au/paul-coe
3. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2017). Paul Coe honoured with NSWALC '40 Years Strong' Chairperson's Award. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-28/paul-coe-honoured-with-nswalc-40-years-strong-award/8751338
4. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2019). Coe v Commonwealth: A legal challenge to terra nullius. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-21/coe-v-commonwealth-legal-challenge-to-terra-nullius/11281616
5. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2017). Redfern All Blacks: The story of an Aboriginal football team. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-27/redfern-all-blacks-the-story-of-an-aboriginal-football-team/8745318
6. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2022). Dover Beach plaque commemorates 1972 protest action. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-18/dover-beach-plaque-commemorates-1972-protest-action/100981084
7. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2017). Paul Coe, Redfern activist and lawyer, dies aged 76. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-29/paul-coe-redfern-activist-lawyer-dies-aged-76/132859124
8. NSWALC. (2025). Paul Coe. Retrieved from https://www.nswalc.org.au/paul-coe
9. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2017). Paul Coe honoured with NSWALC '40 Years Strong' Chairperson's Award. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-28/paul-coe-honoured-with-nswalc-40-years-strong-award/8751338
10. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2019). Coe v Commonwealth: A legal challenge to terra nullius. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-21/coe-v-commonwealth-legal-challenge-to-terra-nullius/11281616
11. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2017). Redfern All Blacks: The story of an Aboriginal football team. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-27/redfern-all-blacks-the-story-of-an-aboriginal-football-team/8745318
12. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2022). Dover Beach plaque commemorates 1972 protest action. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-18/dover-beach-plaque-commemorates-1972-protest-action/100981084
13. Paul Coe's activism, inspired by the US Black Panther Party, extended beyond Redfern, involving him in protests for workers' rights and land justice during the Gurindji (Wave Hill) strike in 1970.
14. Coe's activism was multi-faceted, leading to the establishment of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) in 1970, a service that offered free legal resources to address police oppression and discrimination.
15. Coe's activism also focused on education and self-development, as seen in his co-founding of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972, which promoted social change and Aboriginal sovereignty.
16. Beyond activism, Coe's influence can be seen in the realm of sports, where he helped establish the Redfern All Blacks, an Aboriginal football team that represented a symbol of resistance and cultural pride. His advocacy work extended to politics, education, general news, and sports, leaving a lasting impact on Australian society.

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