Jim McIlroy, Brisbane
Around 400 Aboriginal protesters and their supporters rallied in Roma Street Forum and marched through city streets to Musgrave Park to mark Invasion Day, January 26, the day white settlers first arrived in Australia.
The January 27 Brisbane Courier-Mail reported that "The varied group, which included traditional dancers, veteran marchers and first-timers, along with representatives from the Socialist Alliance and Queensland Greens spokesman Drew Hutton, waved banners, placards and made vocal their views on issues from land rights to justice."
"The big issue that came from today was deaths in custody", Aboriginal activist Sam Watson told the Courier-Mail. "We're really just trying to get the message across for a united Australia — we aren't trying to divide Australia."
Speakers at the rally at Roma Street Forum stressed the need for an end to racist oppression, for equal rights and justice for Indigenous Australians. Poet and musician Lionel Fogarty read from his recently published work. Aboriginal leader Les Collins took up the official Australia Day theme, "What makes Australia great". "How great is a country and society that has denied its Indigenous people basic rights? How great is a country where, even in 2005, women are less valued than men?
"If we are to be a great country, the first step would be to recognise the fundamental rights of the Indigenous community", Collins said.
The rally was followed by a noisy march through the city centre and across the river to South Brisbane. Loud chants of, "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!", and "Who owns this land? We do! Who stole this land? They did! What have we got? Nothing!", rang out.
The marchers paused outside the GPO in Queen Street for a minute's silence to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the execution by hanging of Aboriginal warrior Dundalli, who rebelled against the white takeover of tribal lands in 1855.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, February 2, 2005.
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