The Invasion Day protest on January 26 in Sydney brought 15,000-20,000 people onto the streets after First Nations activists spoke and sung about many injustices in Belmore Park.
The rally called for Australia Day to be abolished, the return of stolen land, an end to Black deaths in custody and mass incarceration and the abolition of the racist “child protection” system that continues to steal Black children in record numbers.
The Voice to Parliament and what it may be, and do, was a big discussion at all the rallies.
“Sovereignty before Voice” was the lead banner. Gumbaynngirr, Dhungutti and Bundjalung woman Lizzie Jarrett, who MCed the rally, asked: “How can we have a Voice to Parliament when we are still at war with the parliament and when the government says they need a referendum to listen to Aboriginal people but do nothing as our people are killed and our lands are destroyed?”
Protest organisers in Melbourne, Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance, said: “26th January is not a day to celebrate. It is an annual reminder of invasion, occupation, genocide and the ongoing impacts of colonisation that continues to destroy our land and waters.”
Between 25,000-30,000 people came out, the large majority of which were young. “It has been 85 years since William Cooper, Jack Patten and other community leaders held the first Day of Mourning at Sydney Town Hall on 26 January 1938.
“We find ourselves in 2023 making the same demands. We’re sick of being ‘advisors’ on our own lives, while the violent state continues to murder us, lock us up, steal our children, destroy our sacred land and culture. As sovereign peoples, governments need to respect Aboriginal sovereignty, law, culture and protocols, and negotiate on our terms.”
Around 200 people protested in Cairns, calling for Australia Day to be abolished and for treaty and justice.
At least 5000 people protested in Adelaide in the city's largest protest action in years, reports Renfrey Clarke.
At the Newcastle Day of Mourning, Niko Leka reported that MC Suzanne Ross explained her reservations about the Voice, including that: the current draft did not use the word “enshrine”, it seemed overly bureaucratic and it was not clear how it would differ from the many other advisory bodies.
“We are the most consulted race in history without any power. The only obligation is that there will be a Voice, which the [government] don’t have to listen to. There’s plenty of time between now and when the vote happens to change it, so it can improve things for us.”
Thousands more rallied in Brisbane and Perth. More photos from the Brisbane rally can be seen here.
Newcastle's Day of Mourning, organised by Justice Aunties and Tracey Hanshaw and now in its 4th year, talked about the upcoming referendum on the Voice to Parliament and paid respect to the loss of Aboriginal lives that began 235 years ago.
Niko Leka reported that MC Suzanne Ross explained her reservations about the Voice, including that: the current draft did not use the word “enshrine”, it seemed overly bureaucratic and it was not clear how it would differ from the many other advisory bodies.
“We are the most consulted race in history without any power. The only obligation is that there will be a Voice, which the [government] don’t have to listen to. There’s plenty of time between now and when the vote happens to change it, so it can improve things for us.”
At least 5000 people rallied and marched in Adelaide, in the city's largest protest action in years.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre estimated around 7000 people marched in Nipaluna/Hobart and more than 500 people in the first-ever Invasion Day march Limilinaturi/Devonport. They called for an end to celebrations on January 26.
