Invasion Day protests, organised by First Nations people across the country on January 26, were very large. This turnout, including many young people, represents a huge defeat for the racist, pro-genocide offensive by state and federal governments, and the far right.
The Blak Caucus organisers on Gadigal Country/Sydney said it was a Day of Mourning.
Speakers called for justice and accountability, and drew the links between their struggle for justice and Palestinian's just struggle against Israel's colonialism.
Warlpiri elder Uncle Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, from the Northern Territory’s Yuendumu community, talked about his grandson’s death at the hands of police outside a supermarket last year. “He didn't deserve to lose his life over one coke.”
The huge and largely young crowd, which included many Arab-Australians, marched from Hyde Park to the Yabun Festival in Victoria Park.
Peter Boyle reports that several participants told Green Left that they sensed that this was another Sydney Harbour Bridge march moment — with up to 100,000 people on the streets. At the same time, a racist March For Australia rally at Prince Alfred Park drew only a few hundred people.
The protest in Djijang/Geelong, organised by Be Tru 2 Uluru Geelong, drew 1200 people including activists from Free Palestine Geelong, IPAN Geelong & Vic South West, Geelong Rainbow, Socialist Alliance Geelong and Greens South West Region.
Sarah Hathway reports that the march called for land rights and sovereignty, and for the Treaty to be upheld. Others spoke about solidarity in the face of right-wing politicians keen to whip up racism and fear. Two drunk people abused people at the Green Left stall; police took their details but no charges were laid.
In Naarm/Melbourne, thousands occupied the Flinders Street station intersection. Chloe DS said organisers estimated at least 100,000 people took to the streets.
In Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide, Markela Panegyres reports that more than 1000 people marched in searing heat to demand justice for First Nations people.
Thousands marched in Magan-djin/Brisbane in sweltering heat. Speakers addressed the crowd in Queens Gardens before marching to Musgrave Park for a festival with music and more speakers.
Approximately 1000 people, including Palawa activists, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre activists and others marched through the streets of nipaluna/Hobart chanting: “We won’t stop; We won’t go away; We won’t celebrate invasion day!”
A march was also organised in limilinaturi/Devonport.
Solomon Doyle reports that outside parliament, TAC organiser Nala Mansell addressed the crowd. She recounted the Risdon Cove Massacre of May 3, 1804, where a large group of Aboriginal people, including men, women and children, were attacked and slaughtered by soldiers and settlers. An Aboriginal boy, aged about two or three, was captured by the colony's surgeon, Jacob Mountgarrett, after his parents were killed.
Palawa activist Cody Gangell-Smith spoke about the ongoing need for truth-telling.