Anti-Australia Day protesters who stormed the Melbourne CBD, prompting police to shut down the city have issued a stern message to patriotic Aussies who celebrated January 26.
Self-proclaimed Invasion Day ‘war organiser’ Caroline Kell urged Aussies who commemorated the national public holiday on Sunday to reconsider ‘exactly what they’re celebrating’.
Ms Kell, a Mbarbarun mob woman, made the comments moments before thousands of ‘Invasion Day’ activists converged on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House to begin the march, where they taunted cops with ‘f— the police’ chants.
‘Today we’re gathering in our thousands to rise above this and come together to mourn loss of life and culture,’ Ms Kell told Daily Mail Australia.
‘There’s still so much unfinished business with this place and until Australia is really willing to acknowledge the past and not sit in this very uncomfortable amnesia about this country and how it’s come to be we’re going to be continually marching on these steps of parliament.
‘This movement behind me here will continue to grow as we’re seeing across the world.
‘We have to stay hopeful there’s not a lot of choices for aboriginal people in this violent place.
Ms Kell also had some advice for Aussies who still enjoy celebrating Australia Day.
Invasion Day ‘war organiser’ Caroline Kell (pictured) has urged Aussies who celebrate Australia Day to rethink their views
More than 25,000 protesters took over the Melbourne CBD to protest Australia Day on Sunday
The Melbourne rally kicked off at the steps at Victoria’s Parliament House
‘I would ask them to look inside themselves,’ she said.
‘This day is not just an Aboriginal history, it’s their collective histories and how they have to come to be here in this place that they call home so I would ask them to first look within and think about what exactly are you celebrating.
‘The loss of land, the removal of kids that live ten years younger than you, today is the day where you can at least show up and be walking proudly with some of the oldest cultures in the world and that should be something we are all aspiring to do.’
Melburnian Shirl Smith said she ‘considers it disgraceful that we celebrate Australia Day’.
‘This is a day many, many years ago when first nations people were murdered. raped, their whole life was taken away from them, it’s not a great day for Australia day, it should be changed,’ Ms Smith said.
‘I’d love to see (Australia Day) scrapped entirely but I know that’s never going to happen so lets change the date.’
Doreen man Leo said he was protesting the ‘concept’ of Australia Day.
‘For the Indigenous population there’s a lot of pain associated with them and , you know, I’m happy to change the day if it makes everyone happy but then again you have the right wing elements who are going to oppose everything,’ Leo said.
Melbourne woman Shirl Smith (pictured) ‘considers it disgraceful that we celebrate Australia Day’
Police had several paddy wagons on standby, ready to haul away troublemakers. But despite thousands marching through the city, not a single arrest was made
Police were ready at the get-go with specialist cops including the mounted branch on standby if unruly agitators caused any trouble.
Tensions began to flare as protesters marched through shuttered shopfronts along Bourke Street.
The march turned onto Swanston Street, causing the jam-packed CBD to slow to a crawl as police lined the street.
The historic Flinders Street precinct was also locked down as activists concluded their march with a street party rally.
Police were ready at the get-go with major streets and public transport routes shut down and specialist cops including the mounted branch on standby in case the protest got out of hand.
Police also had various paddy wagons fuelled and running ready to haul away troublemakers
But despite the big numbers marching through the city not a single arrest was made.
Protesters swelled in number to an estimated 25,000 as Victoria Police praised the ‘overall behaviour of the crowd’.
‘Victoria Police had a highly visible presence throughout the entire Melbourne CBD to ensure Australia Day and the associated community events and rallies could occur safely on January 26,’ a statement read.
Police guarded the entrance to a Swanston St McDonald’s during the Invasion Day rally
The historic Flinders Street precinct was also locked down while activists concluded their march with a street party rally
‘General duties police officers were supported by the mounted branch, highway patrol, bike patrol unit, public order response team, transit police and PSOs throughout the day.’
‘Approximately 25,000 people attended a planned protest at parliament house at about 10am, which concluded on Flinders Street about 4pm.’
Victoria Police also confirmed a smaller pro-Australia Day rally where it was reported Nazi supporter Jacob Hersant attended was held at at Gosch’s Paddock near Melbourne Park, where the 15-day long Australian Open will end on Sunday night.
‘Approximately 50-70 people attended a separate planned pro-Australia Day rally in Gosch’s Paddock, adjacent to Melbourne Park, at 12.30pm,’ a police statement read.
Pro-Australia Day supporters leaving the rally told the Daily Mail Australia that it was a ‘peaceful event’, claiming that Australian Open organisers told them they could stay at the paddock.
‘There were no arrests at this event, Victoria Police was pleased with the overall crowd behaviour throughout the day.’
