Referring to the public holiday as Invasion Day, Aboriginal activists Ken Canning and Elizabeth Jarrett, representatives from Muslim community groups, the Maritime Union of Australia, and David Shoebridge of the Greens called for recognition of genocide against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and an end to celebrating the day it began.
Contrary to the increasingly popular #ChangeTheDate campaign, speakers at the rally instead asserted that there was no appropriate date to celebrate Australia until a treaty could be achieved between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians.
“I wouldn’t choose to celebrate genocide on any day,” said Ken Canning. “In 2015, we had 400 people attending. Last year, it was 6,000. This year, over 10,000 people marched behind us. And most of them were non-Aboriginal. People are waking up to the fact that Australia Day is a scam.”
Greens MP David Shoebridge commented on the demographics of the march in his speech. “Look at this crowd. This is a young group. Change is coming.” The traction the movement has gained has been attributed to the growing visibility of the campaign against celebrating Australia Day on January 26, which has drawn comment from politicians across the spectrum.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke in favour of keeping the celebration on the 26th, whilst former Coalition MP Ian McFarlane said it should be changed out of respect for Aboriginal Australians.
Canning attributed the large turnout to a growing momentum in the movement for justice for Aboriginal people, and work by activists in groups like FIRE (Fighting In Resistance Equally), who organised the rally. “We have been reaching out to other campaigns and communities, and working together more and more over the past few years.”
