Protesters gather outside state parliament for Invasion Day rally
Thousands of Invasion Day protesters have filled Melbourne’s CBD, demanding a change to the date of Australia Day.
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Tens of thousands of Melburnians marched through the CBD on Friday to protest against Australia Day.
Many were seen carrying Indigenous flags and wearing shirts in support of axing the celebration of January 26.
Others held Palestinian flags as a show of solidarity with Indigenous Australians at the Invasion Day rally.
Aboriginal Australian activist of more than 55 years, Gary Foley, said Friday’s rally held special significance, as the Indigenous community shared the protest with the Palestinian people.
“Invasion Day is a day when Aboriginal people reaffirm their commitment to the ongoing struggle for justice,” Mr Foley said.
“This year is a particular historic gathering, in that, because of what’s going on in another part of the world, we have invited our Palestinian brothers and sisters.
“The Palestinian people have been disposed like we are.”
Aboriginal activist Robert ‘Robbie’ Thorpe said Indigenous people had been through “genocide” and many had been denied basic legal and human rights.
“This is a sacred land, and we love it. We want it back,” Mr Thorpe said.
“Stand up for your human rights.”
Other speakers took aim at the state government for not strongly supporting Treaty.
One speaker called out Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan for condemning the vandalism of the Captain Cook statue.
“We are not the vandals, Jacinta Allan,” they said.
Others shared touching tributes to Indigenous people who had died and tragic stories of abuse at the hands of offenders.
“Let love rule,” one woman said.
The thousands of protesters marched their way through the city towards Flinders St station chanting: “What do we want? Treaty. When do we want it? Now”.
The shrill of music coming from a Didgeridoo rang out across the city.
Other chants of “f**k Australia Day” were sung in chorus by protesters.
Tim Anderson, 70, said he had travelled all the way from Sydney to support the rally on Friday.
Mr Anderson equated the Aboriginal struggle to that of the Palestinian people.
“The Aboriginal struggle and the Palestinian struggle share a lot of features,” he said.
“Some at different stages of their history, but basically they share a lot of features and also a lot of problems.”
He said the success of the integration of the two rallies is what encouraged him to venture down to Melbourne.
“I believe the organisers here have integrated the two rallies, the Invasion Day rally and Palestinian solidarity,” he said.
“I’m from Sydney but I’ve come down here precisely because the organisers have apparently done a better job of integrating them than in Sydney.”
As the crowd began to swell before 10am, many began chanting out over megaphones.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” they said.
“Always was always will be, Aboriginal land.”
A heavy police presence was established along Spring St as protesters made their way to the parliamentary steps.
Thousands also met at Kings Domain Resting Place earlier on Friday for an Invasion Day Dawn Service.
Prior to the start of speeches on the steps of parliament, the crowd turned to the sounds of motorcycles driving along Spring St.
Members of the Southern Warriors, a Victorian Indigenous motorcycle group, had come to Melbourne as a show of solidarity to protesters.
Southern Warriors member and Mutthi Mutthi Wamba Wamba man Jason Kelly, 52, said his group supported Aboriginal communities and were advocating to change the date of Australia Day.
“We fight for our culture, but it’s about everyone also,” Mr Kelly said.
As a member of the First People’s Assembly, he said his aim was to share the connection all Australians, first and second Australians as he described, to the land.
He said he was in favour of changing the date, adding that the Australians should consider moving Australia Day to February 26, the anniversary of the Lake Mungo man remains discovery.
“I guess we have got a anniversary in February 26, maybe that could be another day,” he said.
“I mean put it back a month, put it back, back one month for us, back one month for everyone.”
Cheers rang out after one speaker lauded the vandalism of the Captain Cook Memorial in St Kilda early on Thursday.
Many speakers mourned Indigenous elders past and present, saying the Invasion Day rally was one of the “longest standing protests” in the world.
“Could I have a massive round of applause for the death of Australia Day,” one speaker said.
Two protesters then ripped apart an Australian flag, and flew the remains on the ground.
A speaker then proceeded to read out Australia’s Day “eulogy”.
New Zealand tourist, and former resident in Melbourne, Greg Nisbet, 57, said: “It’s peaceful and there’s certainly a right for people to have an opinion, no question about that. It’s just, where we think it gets a bit unruly is we don’t know whether the message comes across in the right kind of way.”
Not being familiar with the size and scale of the contemporary version of the Invasion Day protest, Mr Nisbet said he had heard the messaging had become more “aggressive”.
The Flinders St, Swanston St intersection was blocked off to all traffic, with police officers securing an area where protesters could sit on the road.
Police cars were lined up down Flinders St, diverting traffic heading further into the city.
The road to Russell St was also blocked off to commuters.
Thousands of those who participated in the march watched on from Swanston St as a smoke ceremony and traditional dancing was celebrated to the tune of a didgeridoo and clapping sticks.
Uncle Gary Foley opened proceedings outside Federation Square by criticising the government’s decision to hold the Voice referendum last year.
Proceedings commenced with a powerful performance of Australian icon Archie Roach’s song Took the Children Away.
Australia’s Got Talent golden buzzer winner Breanna Lee Wilson received a standing ovation from the crowd before protesters began to disperse from the Flinders St intersection.
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