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Invasion Day 2020: thousands protest on behalf of indigenous peoples

Thousands of people have flocked to Invasion Day rallies across the country, protesting the exclusion of First Nations people.

Adrianna Zappavigna with AAP
5 min read
January 26, 2020 - 5:01PM

Australia Day celebrations are taking place around the country today, but not without some discord as councils and community members take a stand for indigenous rights.

Thousands have begun to gather at events across Australia to highlight issues affecting indigenous communities, and demand the date be changed.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Australia Day this year comes during a “difficult time” as the state comes to terms with the impact of the devastating fires, the lives lost and the impact on wildlife and the land. The Premier called for renewed public discussion about how the ancient knowledge of Aboriginal people can be used to better protect the environment and communities.

“These devastating bushfires encourage us as a community to reflect on Aboriginal practices that sustained this land for millennia,” she said.

More than 100,000 people took part in Invasion Day rallies last year and with the number and size of events continuing to grow, it will be difficult to quell increasing demands for change.

Here are some of the bigger Invasion Day rallies and events taking place this weekend.

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Three-year-old Jre Simpson from Moree attended the Invasion Day rally in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Darren England.
Three-year-old Jre Simpson from Moree attended the Invasion Day rally in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Darren England.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney’s biggest rally kicked off in Hyde Park at 11am, despite the heat.

The Invasion Day 2020 event was described as a “peaceful protest” against the “genocide and the attempted subjugation of over 500 different nations.” The Facebook event had 2400 registered attendees and another 1900 interested in going as of 10am this morning, but organisers FIRE (Fighting In Resistance Equally) were hoping to surpass last year’s record attendance of 50,000-60,000 people.

Sydney’s annual Yabun festival was also held today on Gadigal land in Victoria Park. The event is billed as the “largest one day gathering in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia”. Running from 11am until 7pm, anyone is welcome to attend the free event which features live music, bustling market stalls, panel discussions and community forums on Aboriginal issues, children’s activities, and traditional cultural performances from indigenous peoples.

Other events included:

• Cooee Festival (Regatta Park, Penrith)

• Invasion Day rally (Civic Park, Newcastle)

• Bermagui Survival Day 2020 (Dickson Oval, Bermagui)

VICTORIA

Mixed emotions reigned on Australia Day in Melbourne with thousands turning out to protest the event while firefighters who battled bushfires led the official parade.

Thousands of people rallied at Parliament House in Melbourne to mark Invasion Day, whiel others took part in an official Australia Day parade reenacting the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.

The official parade saw people marching in various costumes to denote the many cultures that make up Australia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.
The official parade saw people marching in various costumes to denote the many cultures that make up Australia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.
The official parade sharply contrasted the themes of injustice and inequality woven through the protest rallies. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.
The official parade sharply contrasted the themes of injustice and inequality woven through the protest rallies. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

A Melbourne Invasion Day 2020 rally took place outside Parliament House on Spring Street today, with posts on social media appearing under #AbolishAustraliaDay. The Facebook page for the event promised a crowd of over 7,000 people, with crowds marching to “condemn the ongoing violence, ongoing theft, and ongoing discrimination” faced by indigenous Australians.

Marchers in Naarm, Melbourne, chanted ‘Always was, always will be Aboriginal land’. Picture: Twitter. Source: @pinkybarks
Marchers in Naarm, Melbourne, chanted ‘Always was, always will be Aboriginal land’. Picture: Twitter. Source: @pinkybarks

It wasn’t long before a small group of opposing protesters gathered at Flinders Street station.

Footage from an onlooker showed police maintaining a healthy distance between the two groups. The men wore blue t-shirts with the slogan “Gov Arthur Phillip Did Nothing Wrong” emblazoned across their chests, while brandishing signs that read “Australia Day should never be changed.”

Pictures have also emerged of YouTuber Avi Yemini being removed from the Melbourne rally.

According to one onlooker who took to social media to tweet about the incident, Yemini was arrested for interrupting a speech by an Aboriginal woman talking about the murder of her cousin. No stranger to an Invasion Day protest, the YouTube personality made headlines last year after making a video slamming Australia Day protesters for not even understanding what they’re against.

Avi Yemini being led away by Victoria Police. Picture: AAP/James Ross.
Avi Yemini being led away by Victoria Police. Picture: AAP/James Ross.

Other events held in Victoria included the Share the Spirit Festival in Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

A Survival Day March took place in Canberra at Veterans Park on Sunday. Hundreds of people marched over Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and finished on Parliament House lawns at 12.30pm. Organisers of the march advised people to BYO koori flags, water, sunscreen and P2V masks” due to moderate air pollution.


SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide’s major Survival Day 2020 event was spread across three locations: Grenfell Street in Adelaide CBD, the Tandanya building and in Tandanya Park. The park housed the main concert, featuring music and cultural performances between 1pm and 6pm.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Fremantle’s award-winning One Day celebration took place on Saturday, preceding the typical Australia Day celebrations. This year’s event focused on he Kidogo Arthouse Precinct for a showcase of Aboriginal food, culture and music with a particular emphasis on young and emerging talent.

Other events included an Invasion Day Rally in Perth’s Forest Place.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Darwin's Always Was, Always Will Be event kicked off in Civic Park this year, with an open invitation extended to all members of the indigenous and non-Indigenous community.

The organisers’ message was simple: “come together in support of history and truth telling in Australia, on and about this day,” the Facebook event page read. Attendees were treated to key speakers, a free barbecue and drinks.

TASMANIA

A number of speakers were lined up for the Invasion Day rally at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in Hobart this year. Among them was Hobart mayor Anna Reynolds and playwright and Aboriginal elder puralia meenamatta.

Other events included an Invasion Day event at Devonport Bluff at 11.45am.

QUEENSLAND

Queens Gardens in Brisbane was the starting point for an Invasion Day rally organised by Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance and the Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy.

“The past 250 years of colonial destruction has created the many issues that we are currently facing. Invasion Day is an event where First Nations people mourn, survive and continue to resist against the colonial terrorism organisation that is Australia and defend sovereignty,” organisers shared on social media. “Please come stand with The Brisbane Blak community this Invasion Day.”

Protestors crossing Brisbane’s Victoria Bridge during Invasion Day rally. Picture: AAP/Darren England.
Protestors crossing Brisbane’s Victoria Bridge during Invasion Day rally. Picture: AAP/Darren England.
Protesters seen in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Darren England.
Protesters seen in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Darren England.

Organiser Boe Spearim says demonstrations had grown in recent years.

“There’s a massive consciousness shift in the way people are thinking about this date,” Mr Spearim told media.

“I think people who are thinking this day needs to change should think about supporting Aboriginal people throughout the whole year as well.” He said the day did not feel like a celebration.

“The lead-up to Australia Day is pretty much like a funeral for us,” Mr Spearim said.

The opening of the event was briefly marred when man tried to rush the stage during a speech. He was quickly led away by police before the rally resumed.

A protester (centre) was led away by police during the Invasion Day rally in Queens Gardens, Brisbane. Picture: Darren England/AAP
A protester (centre) was led away by police during the Invasion Day rally in Queens Gardens, Brisbane. Picture: Darren England/AAP
After the incident, organisers urged participants not to resort to violence. Picture: Darren England/AAP
After the incident, organisers urged participants not to resort to violence. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Spots of rain didn’t deter the crowds, who took part in minute silence to remember community leader Sam Watson, who passed away in November. The crowd chanted with his grandson Sam, who led today’s event: “Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.”

Other events included a Survival Day celebration at Perfume Gardens in Townsville.

Originally published as Invasion Day 2020: thousands protest on behalf of indigenous peoples

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/invasion-day-2020-thousands-protest-on-behalf-of-indigenous-peoples/news-story/b38d2f39303b46903fcadcc39b265e69