David Widders has spent his life in Armidale.
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He grew up here, experienced racism - from the school yard to the sporting fields - and describes the institionalised racism he said he has seen in his work as a child protection officer.
But as one of the organisers of the Black Lives Matter rally to be held in Armidale next month, Mr Widders said he is seeing an opportunity for both Aboriginal and white Australians to fight racism together.
Mr Widders said putting children into foster care was one of two areas where institutionalised racism needed to be addressed. The other was the high incarceration rate of Aboriginal people, particularly juveniles.
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"Our region, sadly, has one of the highest intake of Aboriginal kids (into foster care)."
Mr Widders said he had seen Aboriginal kids removed from homes in Armidale, because of the size of the family.
"I think, sometimes, there's a prejudgement of Aboriginal people," he said.
"I've got 12 kids at home at the moment. From a non-Aboriginal perspective they might say that's overcrowding.
"I grew up in a household of 13 to 30 at times (and) that's normal for Aboriginal people, but sometimes that non-Aboriginal judgement might come in and think 'how do they look after these kids' and can remove a child based on that type of conversation.
"I do see some of that around town here."
He said the rally organisers had been in contact with the local police inspector, as well as government representatives to be involved.
A police car will lead the march, Mr Widders said, and he hopes it will lead to ongoing talks with police and government organisations to try and reduce the number of Aboriginal children ending up in either foster care or jail.
"The frustration I think for Aboriginal people is we were born fighters, I copped racism here in Armidale for many years, on the sporting fields, and I fight and argue. I've been fighting against government policies.
"But I think the feeling from a lot of our mob is we're sick of fighting, we're sick of arguing.
"I think if non-Aboriginal people step up I think it will add to the argument in a positive way."
When the meetings have taken place to organise the local Black Lives Matter rally, there has been a mix of both Aboriginal and white Australians supporting it, which Mr Widders said had been the case when previous Australian movements have taken place - such as the freedom rides and the tent embassy.
"Marching in solidarity together, I think it sends a strong message to everybody," he said.
The rally will be held on the morning of Saturday, August 8, starting at 10am.
It will include a march in the CBD streets from Dumaresq St, up Jessie Street to Rusden Street, then back down Faulkner Street to Curtis Park, where there will be speeches.
"It's a good town, there's really nice people around here, but racism still exists, it's still out there sadly.
"If we can walk together, stand together and march together, it sends a great message," he said.
