What Would William Cooper Do Today Re Antisemitism?

What Would William Cooper Do Today Re Antisemitism?

A special Indigenous Friends of Israel International Zoom Seminar with John Briggs, Yorta Yorta Aboriginal leader and great-nephew of William Cooper.

In December 1938, William Cooper led the Australian Aborigines’ League in a courageous protest against the persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany. The delegation walked to the German Consulate in Melbourne to deliver a letter protesting the Kristallnacht pogrom and calling for an end to the persecution of the Jewish people.

This is amazing because Aboriginal people were not Australian citizens and could not vote at the time.

More than 80 years later, antisemitism is again a serious concern in Australia and around the world.

What would William Cooper do today?

John Briggs, a Yorta Yorta Aboriginal leader and William Cooper's great-nephew, will reflect on his great-uncle's remarkable legacy and consider what it means for Indigenous Australians and others who stand against antisemitism today.

John was a key player in the formation of Intract Indigenous Contractors in 2010, where he is a director, and he sits on the board of South Australian Native Title Services.

This will be an important conversation about courage, friendship, standing against racism and antisemitism, and the continuing legacy of William Cooper.

Event details

📅 Monday 26 October 2026
🕡 6.30–8.00pm Brisbane time (UTC+10)
💻 Online via Zoom

Register through Humanitix to receive the Zoom details.

Presented by Indigenous Friends of Israel International