A march in Morwell, Victoria, drew around 600 participants on Saturday, calling for action against violent crime following the alleged murder of 18-year-old Kaiden Morgan-Johnston. The march began at The Gathering Place community center and concluded at the local police station.

Morgan-Johnston was reportedly walking to a friend's house when he was fatally stabbed, just 200 meters from his home. His friend, Tyrese Walsh, 20, was also attacked but survived. Two suspects, 19-year-old Tyson Fenton and a 16-year-old boy, have been charged with murder and are currently in custody awaiting court appearances.

During the march, community elders spoke to the crowd, emphasizing the need for Indigenous voices to be heard and urging that Morgan-Johnston's death should lead to positive changes in the community. The young men were part of the cultural dance group Boorun Boys and had previously been featured on ABC Takeover.

On Tuesday, family and friends gathered again to honor Morgan-Johnston at a memorial site on The Boulevard. Loved ones described him as a proud Indigenous man who brought joy to those around him. His mother, Sascha Johnston, expressed that the march reflected her son’s spirit, stating, "He brought everybody together, every walk of life, every generation; it didn't matter if you were Indigenous or non-Indigenous, he was a true lover of life and people."

Morgan-Johnston's brother, Jake Muller, called for stricter measures against offenders, saying, "It's got to stop. We don't want to lose any other boys; and if Kaiden is the reason that it stops now, that would make him rest a lot easier knowing it was for something in the end."

Muller also shared the profound impact of his brother's loss, saying, "He has left a big hole in our hearts that we will never fill ever again, and the community has even got a hole in their hearts, as you can see from today."

The family is advocating for tougher bail laws, with Johnston noting, "I always used to say to Kaiden, someone out there is a future victim; I didn't think it would be him. He was a lover of life and people."

Willy Morgan, the victim's father, expressed his desire for justice, stating, "I'm not getting any younger but before I go, I want justice. I made a promise to my son and I will keep it."

Reverend Kathy Dalton, an elder in the Gunaikurnai community, lamented the loss of a promising young man, saying, "His life was taken too short, for what? For people hating and causing pain within our communities. We should be able to walk home, or walk down the street of the town we live in without fear from everyone."

Dalton called for an end to violence and urged the government to address the ongoing crime crisis. "Now we wait, we wait as a community, as a family, for justice. We want justice, proper justice, so healing, peace and forgiveness and hope for our community can be done."

In response to the rising concerns about knife crime, the Minister for Community Safety, Police and Victims, Anthony Carbines, reported that over 3,200 weapons were surrendered during a recent machete amnesty. He noted that Victoria Police have seized more than 11,000 weapons this year as part of ongoing operations.

Carbines acknowledged the tragedy of Morgan-Johnston's death, stating, "My thoughts are with his family, friends and the community during this time. Knife crime has claimed too many young lives and we're doing everything we can in Victoria to put an end to it." He highlighted the state's efforts to remove knives from the streets and the implementation of tougher bail tests for knife offenses.