By Sam King and Andrew Martin (Melbourne), Ana Cavalcante (Brisbane) and Barry Healy (Perth)
The loud and visible presence of thousands of Palestine supporters, there to support the struggle of Indigenous Australians, was one of the most notable features of invasion day actions this year. The other was the huge prominence and genuine support given by the Indigenous community and their supporters for the Palestinian struggle.
This cross fertilisation added strength and numbers. Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth (and likely other) actions were bigger this year than last. All this comes after prominent Indigenous presence and speakers at Palestine solidarity actions across the country since October 7.
Melbourne
One young Melbourne Indigenous organiser told the huge crowd “we always stand up for the oppressed and today we are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine. We are so sorry for what you are going through”.
Nasser Mashni, President of Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, told the Melbourne crowd that “Invasion Day is Indigenous Peoples’ Nakba… The parallels with Palestine are absolute. Terra Nullius was a fancy way of saying ‘a land without a people for a people without land’”.
That phrase was and is the rationale for the racist, settler colonial occupation of Palestine and the establishment of the apartheid state of Israel.
Prominent left-wing indigenous elder Robert Thorpe also highlighted the International Court of Justice case brought against Israel by South Africa and called for a similar case to be brought against Australia.
Thorpe suggested that the defeat of Israel would be “game over” for colonialism and condemned Australian military support for Israel. Reflecting his position in the left-wing of the Indigenous movement, Thorpe called for a “proper revolution” – not a merely symbolic change, like changing the date or constitutional recognition.
Long-term Indigenous leader Professor Gary Foley pointed out that in 1938 William Cooper initiated the first “Day or Mourning”. But the rapid growth of major mobilisations on January 26 over the last 15 years has taken the form of “Invasion Day” actions.
Foley also highlighted the genocide committed in Australia, reminding us that the Indigenous population of Victoria was reduced from 100,000 to 1,500 people between 1830 and 1850.
Foley attributed the success and growth of the Melbourne actions to the organising group – Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance.
Brisbane and Perth
In Brisbane, Invasion Day attracted around 8,000 people to Queens Garden – larger than last year. A Palestine solidarity contingent had been invited by organisers and the Palestinian flag was everywhere – even beside the stage below the Aboriginal flag.
Speakers emphasised the shared struggle between Aboriginal peoples and Palestinians, the inadequacy and unwillingness of both major parties to address oppression, the need for honest engagement with treaty, and the necessity of properly funding frontline services, either through the government or by crowdfunding.
The high rates of Aboriginal youth incarceration in Queensland were especially highlighted. One young speaker pointed out that the state government has suspended the Human Rights Act twice to pass laws allowing more repressive measures against young people. Queensland is building two new youth detention centres (instead of housing projects) while criminalising Aboriginal youth.
The voice was a more divisive issue. Professor Chelsea Watego and other speakers highlighted the racism of the ‘No’ vote. Still others claimed the whole referendum process was absurd. This contrasts to Melbourne where there was little to no mention of the referendum by rally speakers.
The Brisbane march was planned to the usual Aboriginal gathering place of Musgrave Park, but a speaker proposed going to the Gabba cricket ground, dividing the protest.
2,000-3,000 people attended the Perth rally and march. There was a noticeable influx of young people who connected the struggle against genocide in Palestine with the Indigenous struggle in Australia. Many speakers took this up on the podium.
Rally organiser Fabian Yarran drew attention to the Palestinian struggle and the Māori struggle in Aotearoa/New Zealand, where language rights are under attack. The Perth action was both larger and more socially diverse than last year.
“Australia Day” fading fast
It has been more than a decade now since Invasion Day actions have dominated Melbourne and other major cities on January 26, and for many years the futile and embarrassing attempts to prop up Australia Day parades have been widely abandoned.
Notably, there were almost no “change the date” signs or clothing among the Melbourne crowd – a big contrast from four or five years ago. As purely symbolic change has increasingly become the favoured policy of the liberal wing of the establishment, calls to “change the date” have lost ground among the Invasion Day crowds.
Instead, they seem to overwhelmingly favour fundamental change, starting from the acknowledgement of deep, systemic problems stemming from dispossession and genocide.
Far-sighted members of the Australian ruling class and their political supporters must be concerned about the strengthened Indigenous and Palestinian solidarity and collaboration, which delivers a whole new group of supporters to the Indigenous struggle here.
Similarly, the Australian state’s policy of support for its imperialist ally Israel is being further undermined by opposition from virtually all those who oppose Indigenous oppression here.
The fusion is helping to raise the political consciousness of both movements. It helps the huge numbers of people who are opposed to racism and injustice to start to understand the systemic reasons this continues to occur, not just historically but today.
This rising consciousness is a significant step forward, at the least among the broad-left or “humanist” part of the Australian population – which is a very significant part, especially among young people. In part the rising consciousness can be credited to the organisers of today’s excellent actions, and also to the long term efforts of Indigenous, Palestine solidarity and left activists who have been drawing such links for many years.
Today’s small step forward is important. It can and must be consolidated and deepened as we prepare, harden and increasingly mobilise our side to challenge the mainstream and the far right.
For more action photos see:
A Eulogy for January 26
One young Melbourne organiser gave a eulogy to Australia Day from the steps of Victorian Parliament. They urged the crowd, “Please give a round of applause for the death of invasion day.” The eulogy continued,
“This eulogy is long overdue and painfully anticipated – it is the death of the atrocity known as Australia Day. Once just a twinkle in the nationalist’s eyes it became a nation-wide holiday, revived and given life by John Howard.
It marks the beginning of genocide and some of the worst crimes against humanity in history.
The first protest against Invasion Day was a procession through the streets of Sydney in 1938 with the intention of providing hope to expose the true meaning of the day. The protests have become a success.
Triple J moved the hottest 100 to a more appropriate date. The City of Melbourne after facing dwindling numbers for years has cancelled the Australia Day parade. Because when is it ever appropriate to celebrate the beginning of genocide?
We’re still here. You couldn’t kill us. Fuck Australia Day. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. This is not our funeral. This is yours.”
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