Australia's Invasion Day rallies: A day of mourning, reflection, and calls for change
A day of pain and reckoning
Australia's national day, January 26th, is a date that carries deep significance for many Australians. While it commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove in 1788, for First Nations communities, it has long been a day of pain and reckoning. The first Day of Mourning was held in 1938, and today, thousands of people across the country are turning out at Invasion Day rallies to call for change.
A day of extreme heat and solidarity
Despite the extreme heat, crowds are gathering at events all over Australia to show support for the Indigenous community. In Sydney, Uncle Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves addressed the crowd, speaking of his grandson's death in custody in Alice Springs last year. In Melbourne, a dawn mourning service was conducted by Woiwurrung and Boon Wurrung leaders, including speeches, traditional dances, songs in language, and the reading of historical accounts of massacres against Aboriginal people.
A day of truth-telling and culture
In Brisbane, the annual Invasion Day rally is being held at Queens Gardens, with community figures addressing the crowd ahead of the march over Victoria Bridge to Musgrave Park. In Adelaide, thousands of protesters braved the searing heat to march through the CBD for the annual Survival Day rally. And in Hobart, attendees at an Invasion Day rally were asked to turn their back on parliament and raise their fists, chanting "We won't stop, we won't go away, we won't celebrate invasion day".
A call for change
The rallies are a call for change, with speakers calling for January 26 to be marked as a Day of Mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rather than a national celebration. There have also been calls for truth-telling, action on deaths in custody, and protection of country. In Melbourne, organizers are calling for January 26 to be a day for truth-telling and sharing culture, but not a day for celebration.
A day of reflection and resilience
For many, the day is about reflection and resilience. In Sydney, Uncle Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves asked the crowd to sing along with him, saying "I stand with you from my community and my people". In Melbourne, Camp Sovereignty co-founder and First Nations elder Uncle Robbie Thorpe said today was a "day of mourning for Aboriginal people". And in Hobart, one attendee, Wajan, said, "I really believe in addressing that history and trauma and having an open dialogue".
A day of unity and culture
The Invasion Day rallies are also a celebration of culture. In Sydney, the crowd gathered at Victoria Park on Gadigal land for the Yabun festival, described by organizers as one of the most significant First Nations gatherings on the national calendar. In Melbourne, the service included speeches, traditional dances, songs in language, and the reading of historical accounts of massacres against Aboriginal people. And in Brisbane, banners, signs, face paint, and messages of solidarity are on display.
A call for action
The rallies are a call for action, with speakers urging the government to take action on deaths in custody and protect country. In Melbourne, Millie Ingram read a statement on behalf of Uncle Mark Brown, who was booed while giving a welcome to country at an Anzac Day service last year. In the statement, Uncle Mark wrote the community wanted more than just a change of date.
A day of controversy and reflection
The Invasion Day rallies are a day of controversy and reflection. While some see it as a day to mourn and reflect on the past, others see it as a day to celebrate Australia's national day. The rallies are a reminder that Australia's history is complex and that there are many different perspectives on the past. As one speaker in Hobart said, "I think it's an important part of being Australian, to acknowledge our past honestly".
Join the conversation
What do you think about the Invasion Day rallies? Do you think January 26 should be marked as a Day of Mourning? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
