WHEN Latoya Smith was a girl, her grandfather would empower her to use her voice to make a difference.
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He told her everyone had the potential to be great, it was important to educate yourself and speak up when others can't.
Richard Pacey made a difference in Latoya's life, now she wants to pave a way for her own children.
George Floyd will not have the opportunity to do that. His death, at the hands of Minneapolis law enforcement officers, has shocked the world and resulted in a global movement for change.
Floyd died on May 25 after he was pinned to the ground by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed and unarmed Floyd, who repeatedly said, "I can't breathe."
Officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with murder, and he and the others could face up to 40 years in prison.
Floyd's name and his final words have been chanted across the globe by thousands of protesters and fuelled the movement Black Lives Matter.
Read more: George Floyd protests spread globally
It will raise awareness about Aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia and bring people together in solidarity for change.
The walk will commence at the Town Beach skate park at 2pm on Saturday (June 6) and will move peacefully to the Town Green where a statement by the family of the late David Dungay Jr, an indigenous man who died in police custody, will be read.
In 2015, Dungay died in Sydney's Long Bay prison hospital after a struggle with guards in his cell.
More than 400 indigenous Australians have died in police detention since a 1991 royal commission into the deaths of Aboriginal people in custody, according to Amnesty International Australia.
"My grandfather always me persuaded me to do great and educate myself and use that to make a difference," Latoya said.
"This movement for me is a want to see change and think about our next generation. I look at my kids and think what if this happened to them?
Read more: Black Lives Matter rally held in Sydney
"It's time we stand together - this will be a rally about education."
Latoya said part of the change is to break down the stereotypes that persist around Aboriginal people and their culture. To do this, Indigenous Australians need to use their voice and be heard, she said.
"There are real issues in our community and we must stand together as one and be united as a nation," she said.
"We need to ask ourselves, why are our people incarcerated in the first place? How do we prevent this from happening and how do we make the services and resources out there accountable for what they are doing?
"We need to decrease the incarceration rate, increase the education levels of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders kids and look seriously at our health statistics which are through the roof.
"We need to stop the cycle and start addressing things - we need a voice."
Those attending the rally will be reminded to adhere to social distancing rules.
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