Former Don Dale detainee Dylan Voller says he could have ended up dead like Aboriginal teenager Elijah Doughty, who was killed when a man ran him over chasing down an allegedly stolen bike.
The 56-year-old man who killed Elijah was last month cleared of manslaughter in the Perth Supreme Court, sparking protests across the country.
"As a 14-year-old kid I used to ride motorbikes around on the street," Mr Voller said.
"I've crashed my motorbike and almost died being chased down by someone."
Last night, lawyers from across the country heard the former detainee speak about justice for Elijah and for all Indigenous youth in the legal system.
They stood at a vigil in Canberra with Indigenous rights activists, who were still seething over the three-year sentence handed to Elijah's killer, which they claimed was unjust.
But head of engagement for the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Melanie Poole, said politicians were starting to hear that anger.
"We got very quick responses that yes, they want to hear about what it is that we're saying and doing and get a sense where all of this is going," she said.
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"It's an absolute crisis," Ms Poole said.
"We're seeing similar trajectories to what we've seen in the United States, with [Indigenous] incarceration rapidly increasing."
But Ms Poole said the reaction to the court decision on Elijah's death had rallied the Indigenous community, and held parallels to the high-profile killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, which helped spark the Black Lives Matter movement.
"People are saying that this could be Australia's Trayvon Martin moment," she said.
"And I do see a lot of parallels. But I don't think anyone knows yet where it all will go."
Amnesty International Indigenous rights campaigner Roxanne Moore said justice was a "bittersweet word" for Aboriginal people.
"This is not the first time or the last time the courts will not deliver justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," she said.
"[Elijah's killer] received three years for dangerous driving causing death. Elijah's family however will be mourning forever.
"Our leaders need to listen... so that children like Dylan never have to experience that abuse ever again."
Mr Voller said it was hard for him to talk about Elijah's death, but that the young Kalgoorlie boy deserved justice.
"Australia just needs to realise it's a kid. They need to think about it," he said.
"What if that was their brother, their sister? No matter what colour, it's a kid, and justice needs to be served."
