'Bring them home': Hundreds call for answers after mysterious disappearances of seven Indigenous men (2024)

A chant of "bring them home" echoes along the streets of Broome, Western Australia, as hundreds of people united in heartbreak march together.

Zane Stevens, Jeremiah "Jayo" Rivers, Wylie Oscar, Clinton Lockyer, Wesley Lockyer, Brenton Shar and Jimmy Taylor are the names of seven Indigenous WA men who are missing and their families want answers.

The "Let's Bring Them Home" peaceful protests were held in Broome, Geraldton and Hedland on Wednesday morning to call for more action and support from the state government and police into resolving the men's cases.

The Kimberley march was led by the family of Pilbara man Mr Stevens, who went missing near Broome in April during the national Missing Persons Week.

Zane's aunt Tania Stevens said her family wanted to raise more awareness about the missing men and push for more efficient search processes.

"What we'd like to do is put the pressure on and, when a person becomes missing, if it's three days, put the pressure on and go and look for a person — don't leave it until years and years later," she said.

"There's people with information, so come on, come forward and let us know where our loved one is, because we want closure."

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'We will not stop'

Wylie Oscar, 22, went missing near Fitzroy Crossing in 2022 and his aunt June Oscar said his disappearance has had a profound impact on his family.

"It's important that we continue to keep the fact they're missing in the public space and on the radar," she said.

"We will not stop raising awareness about the fact our family members are missing and we won't stop until we know further information."

East Kimberley man Jayo Rivers was last seen on a hunting trip in Queensland.

His grandmother Anne Rivers said the rally was an opportunity to call for answers.

"We find support here today, seeing a lot of lovely people supporting each other, and we're here to support them as well," she said.

Mr Stevens's partner Marissa Tait said it had been a difficult time and that it was important to unite.

"We all come together and work as one so we can all find them together," she said.

Jimmy Taylor's family also spoke at the event and recalled the last time they saw the 12-year-old back in August 1974.

The Derby boy walked to the shops and never came home.

Marches in South Hedland, Geraldton

Heartbroken family and community members also congregated in the Pilbara town of South Hedland and Geraldton, in the Midwest.

Banjima man and South Hedland protest organiser Henry Lockyer said the community was calling for a dedicated task force to collectively investigate the whereabouts of the missing men.

"Even though they might be considered to be separate cases, we know that we are all connected through our families as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the Pilbara, across the Midwest and the Kimberley," he said.

"The police need to recognise that [the cases] are connected and start exploring what those connections are in the hope that will actually be the key to helping bring them home."

A petition has already garnered more than 1,000 signatures and will be presented to state parliament.

About 30 people also gathered in Geraldton, roughly 400 kilometres north of Perth.

The peaceful protest was dedicated to 37-year-old father of six, Brenton Shar, who was reported missing on May 10.

Mr Shar's partner, Kasey Burns, said the past couple of months had been "horrible".

"I've just been struggling with everything it's not the same without Brenton at home with us," she said.

"The kids are always looking for dad, but how do I explain to my children where their dad is?"

'It's very difficult'

Police detectives accompanied the march in Broome and Kimberley Superintendent Steve Thompson said the missing men had not been forgotten by authorities and that each investigation was ongoing.

"We will continue to receive any information, assess it and will act upon it," he said.

"It's very difficult for the families and we understand that — my heart goes out to them."

Premier Roger Cook said the disappearances were "incredibly sad" and that the government would continue to put resources into finding the men.

"Our police, particularly through [Operation] Regional Shield, have all the resources they need to provide appropriate resources and workforce on the ground in the Pilbara and the Kimberley," he said.

"It's incredibly sad and we continue to do all we can do to support them."