Thousands of protesters have blocked roads outside the state parliament building in Melbourne as huge crowds turned out to simultaneous rallies in other capital cities across the nation to mark Day.
The crowd was pictured gathering shortly after 10am outside the century-old building, with both the Aboriginal and Palestinian flags being waved.
Thousands of protestors showed up at Parliament House in Victoria for ‘Invasion Day’ rallies
Signs reading ‘No Pride in Genocide’ were raised by some protestors, and the Palestinian and Aboriginal flags were waved side-by-side by others
Free Palestine Melbourne shared video of the rally to their social media, with flag-waving marchers heard chanting ‘Abolish the date, abolish the state’
Free Palestine Melbourne shared video of the rally to their social media, with flag-waving marchers heard chanting: ‘Abolish the date, abolish the state!’.
Placards and decorative signs placed on the steps of the parliament building carried calls for racial justice and memorials for Indigenous people killed in custody.
The crowd was pictured gathering shortly after 10am outside the century-old building, with both the Aboriginal and Palestinian flags being waved
In Brisbane a Queensland Police spokesperson said that they anticipated crowds of up to 8,000 to join the city’s Invasion Day protests.
Protesters marched through the CBD with Aboriginal and Palestinian flags calling for the date of Day and the ‘system’ to be changed.
Signs held by protestors read ‘No pride in genocide’ and ‘No justice no peace’ as marchers chanted ‘Always was, always will be … Aboriginal land’ and ‘Free Palestine’.
Retired AFL player Nakia Cockatoo told the crowd that he wanted ns to come together in ‘sadness and happiness’ to ‘remember’ and ‘reflect’.
Rhys Monaghan, an Indigenous man, followed Mr Cockatoo’s speech by adding that ‘Today is our Anzac Day – our survival day’.
Mr Monaghan suggested changing the date to Steve Irwin’s birthday so that ns could be brought ‘together’.
In Brisbane a Queensland Police spokesperson said that they anticipated crowds of up to 8,000 to join the city’s ‘Invasion Day’ protests
Signs held by protestors read ‘No pride in genocide’ and ‘No justice no peace’ as marchers chanted ‘Always was, always will be … Aboriginal land’ and ‘Free Palestine’
Protesters marched through the CBD with Aboriginal and Palestinian flags calling for the date of Day and the ‘system’ to be changed
Meanwhile in Canberra, the entrance to Parliament House was locked down as activists marched right to the building’s front doors.
Thousands gathered at the building’s forecourt where organisers yelled ‘F*** Israel and F*** ‘ in protest of both Day and the war on Gaza.
Visitors to Parliament House who were trying to exit the building were forced to leave via the basement exit.
The activists continued their march towards the Aboriginal Tent Embassy where more speeches will take place.
Meanwhile in Canberra, the entrance to Parliament House was locked down as activists marched right to the building’s front doors
Thousands gathered at the building’s forecourt where organisers yelled ‘F*** Israel and F*** ‘ in protest of both Day and the war on Gaza
The activists continued their march towards the Aboriginal Tent Embassy where more speeches will take place
Visitors to Parliament House who were trying to exit the building were forced to leave via the basement exit
It’s unclear at this stage when the building will be reopened for public access.
Activist group Get Up described the Invasion Day movement as growing ‘stronger and bolder’ as hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets.
‘(They) demonstrate to current and future governments the power of Indigenous identity and self-determination and to demand First Nations justice,’ GetUp said.
In a statement, GetUp CEO and Widjabul Wia-bal woman Larissa Baldwin-Roberts highlighted the importance of the rallies as the first since the failed Voice referendum.
‘We need to stand against their division, uplift First Nations strength and solutions, and fight against the far-right efforts to undermine First Nations justice,’ she said.
‘Invasion Day has always been about our communities’ resilience, strength and demands and this year is no different. This year we’re demanding a treaty now.
‘Our elders ignited the call for a treaty decades ago. We cannot afford to wait another half-century for it to happen. remains the only Commonwealth country without a treaty.’
Ms Baldwin-Roberts also called on all governments to ‘understand that the time for reconciliation is over and we need to see concrete next steps towards a treaty’.
The rally comes after large crowds gathered at both Bondi Beach in Sydney and in Melbourne for dawn services, which included dance and smoking ceremonies.
Protesters will march across the country on Friday, including in Sydney where people gathered at Belmore Park for an event organised by The Blak Caucus.
The group urged protesters to demand an ‘end to the war on black kids’ and protection of Aboriginal land.
They also called on NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with the families of people who had died in custody.
The event was formally endorsed by a range of pro-Palestine groups who had marched through Sydney streets every Sunday for more than three months.
In Sydney more protests took place throughout the CBD and in Belmore Park
The group urged protesters to demand an ‘end to the war on black kids’ and protection of Aboriginal land
They also called on NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with the families of people who had died in custody
The rallies come just a day after a statue of Captain James Cook was vandalised in Melbourne
The rallies come just a day after a statue of Captain James Cook was vandalised in Melbourne.
The monument was removed from its podium after being sawn off at the ankles, according to Victoria Police.
A second statue to Queen Victoria was also vandalised on Thursday after being doused in red paint.
The rally comes after large crowds gathered at both Bondi Beach in Sydney and in Melbourne for dawn services, which included dance and smoking ceremonies
Protesters marched across the country on Friday, including in Sydney where people gathered at Belmore Park for an event organised by The Blak Caucus
A range of other events took place across the country on Friday, including Sovereignty and Survival Day rallies
A range of other events took place across the country on Friday, including Sovereignty and Survival Day rallies.
Among them was the Meanjin Survival Dat ceremony, which organisers said celebrated the ‘survival of the First Peoples’.
The rallies will be the first since the failed Voice to Parliament referendum in October.