Invasion Day Protests: Challenging Australia Day Celebrations | Oneindia News - video Dailymotion

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Join us as we cover the 'Invasion Day' rallies where protesters gather to voice their opposition to Australia Day celebrations. Explore the reasons behind their stance and witness the call for a more inclusive national day.    #AustraliaDay #OpposingAustraliaDay #InvasionDay #AustraliaDayHistory #AustraliaDayCelebrations #Australia #AustraliaNews #Sydney #Oneindia                 ~HT.99~PR.274~ED.155~

Transcript

00:00 On Australia's National Day, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Invasion

00:10 Day rallies, demonstrating their solidarity with the indigenous community.

00:15 Their collective voice called for reconsidering celebrations and urged a change in the date.

00:22 Protests echoed across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart and more.

00:28 James Cummings, a participant, emphasised a recurring theme among the marchers - the

00:33 search for a more suitable day to commemorate the nation.

00:37 Annually, since 1994, January 26 has been celebrated as Australia Day.

00:44 It's the cherished official holiday for most Australians, offering an opportunity to hit

00:49 the beach, enjoy a summer test match and revel in festivities.

00:53 However, the chosen date aligns with the arrival of European settlers at Sydney Harbour in

01:00 1788, a historical event that for some symbolises the commencement of a violent, colonial campaign

01:08 that nearly wiped out the aboriginals from their ancestral lands.

01:14 Indigenous Australians, consulting 3.8 per cent of the nation's 26 million people, have

01:20 inhabited the land for a staggering 65,000 years.

01:25 Despite their enduring presence, they face significant challenges, including issues related

01:31 to health and education, rendering them among the most disadvantaged in the country.

01:37 Consequently, many within the indigenous community reject the celebration of this holiday.

01:43 Attending one of the rallies, Aboriginal elder Adrian Burugubba expressed, "Australia Day

01:50 doesn't mean anything to us.

01:52 For him, and many like him, it's a day that signifies aboriginal sovereignty, a poignant

01:58 reminder to the complex history embedded in the country's fabric."

02:02 Remarkably, on the eve of Australia Day statues paying homage to British colonial figures,

02:10 Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria were targeted in Melbourne.

02:15 Captain Cook's statue was reportedly toppled near Jaka Ballwood, severed in the shins and

02:21 adorned with the provocative message, "The Colony Will Fall."

02:26 Simultaneously, the statue of former monarch Queen Victoria bore the marks of red paint.

02:33 In response to the incident, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen vehemently denounced the act,

02:38 asserting that such vandalism has no place in Australian society.

02:43 She declared, "We will be working with the Council to repair and reinstate the statue

02:49 in St Kilda that has been vandalised overnight."

02:53 Opposition leader John Facetto echoed Allen's sentiments, labelling the incident as "unacceptable".

02:59 "There's no place for acts of vandalism or any other violent acts against people or property

03:06 in our community.

03:07 We support the right of people to protest and demonstrate.

03:11 But it must always be done peacefully and respectfully," emphasised Facetto, highlighting

03:17 the importance of peaceful expression amid the ongoing dialogue surrounding historical

03:22 symbols.

03:31 [MUSIC PLAYING]

Invasion Day Protests: Challenging Australia Day Celebrations | Oneindia News

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