Thousands of people around the country turned "Sorry Day", May 26, into a day of protest against the federal government's policies on indigenous rights, in particular its attempt to deny the suffering inflicted on the generations of Aboriginal children forcibly taken from their parents.
In various cities, university and high school students took part in on-campus actions and street marches in nationally coordinated actions organised by the Indigenous Students Network (ISN) and the National Union of Students (NUS) under the banner "To forget the past is to deny the future".
The student protesters demanded the negotiation of a treaty and real land rights for Aboriginal people, the overturning of mandatory sentencing laws, an apology and compensation to the stolen generations, and the reversal of cuts to the Aboriginal student allowance, Abstudy.
Melbourne
In Melbourne, Marcel Cameron reports that 3000 people braved wet and windy weather to voice their support for the stolen generations and demand that the government implement the recommendations of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission report on Aboriginal children taken from their parents.
Under the slogan "Rebuilding our families, rebuilding our future", the protest, organised by the Victorian Stolen Generations Committee and the Bringing Them Home Committee, brought together a diversity of groups and individuals.
Neville Austin, a member of the stolen generations, told of how, removed from his real parents, he went through 12 schools and institutions and was reunited with his family only after 20 years. The proceedings ended with Wathcamacalit dancers on stage.
In worsening weather, the thousands-strong crowd marched through the city streets. In a symbolic and visual protest, people laid hundreds of white flowers on the steps of Parliament House before returning to Treasury Gardens where several bands were performing.
Rory Campbell and Sarah Peart report that "Justice yes! Racism no! Mandatory sentencing has got to go!" was the cry from 100 secondary students who walked out of school on May 26 to join the "Rebuilding our families" rally.
"Mandatory sentencing is racist and unjust", shouted Resistance activist Shayna Nathan. "We are not going stop protesting until mandatory sentencing is abolished across the board".
Outside state parliament, students gave marks on a giant mock report card for John Howard's record on indigenous rights. He failed dismally in all subjects, including land rights, reconciliation and Aboriginal welfare. Students then set alight an effigy of the prime minister before joining the larger rally at Treasury Gardens.
Sydney
In Sydney, Daniel Ooi reports, 250 people rallied at Hyde Park before marching to the Stolen Generation Archives at the Mitchell Library, where they laid crosses and observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims of attempted genocide.
The rally then marched on the Northern Territory Tourism Commission to protest against the NT's mandatory sentencing regime and the failure of tourist companies operating in the NT to speak out against the laws.
Lismore
In Lismore, Emma Birch reports, university and high school students from around the town walked out of their classes on May 26 to attend an anti-racism rally, despite attempts by police, high school principals and university administrators to prevent students from attending.
The rally was organised in northern NSW by the ISN, Resistance and the Northern Rivers Anti-Racism Coalition (NRARC).
Fifty students gathered at Southern Cross University at noon, where they heard from the ISN's Star Moarywalla-Barker and NUS state president Dom Rowe, before joining another 250 people at a lecture by Aboriginal writer Ruby Langford. Meanwhile, 150 people, including high school students, rallied at Spinks Park, where they were later joined by SCU students.
The rally was peaceful, despite a small crowd of Vietnam War veterans patrolling the war memorial nearby; the local Returned Servicemen's League had initially given permission for the rally to be held there, but had later withdrawn it. When the NRARC contacted the police in the process of organising the rally, the police had demanded an estimate on the size of the event and a "breakdown by nationality". Intervention by the NUS prevented further harassment.
A Richmond Rivers High student, John, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, "Racism is the biggest problem in Australia today — particularly in regional areas such as Lismore. Only when everyone stands up against government, as well as community racism, will there be real justice."
Moarywalla-Barker said, "The national day of action is to recognise the stolen generations when our governments cannot. We deserve to know the truth about Australia's history — our governments must put the lies to rest."
Newcastle
"Let's take a moment to think of my mother, who had seven children taken from her overnight", author and stolen generations member Donna Meehan told the 80 people present at Sorry Day events in Newcastle, Erin Killion reports.
Lorraine Peters and her granddaughter Megan told of how the theft of Aboriginal children has impacted on indigenous people of all generations. Fifteen-year-old Megan Peters denounced the federal government's response to the report into the stolen generations, Bringing them Home, and called for a formal government apology.
The Sorry Day rally at Newcastle University was organised by the newly formed Indigenous Student Collective and chaired by the indigenous students officer, Renee Williamson. Acting vice-chancellor Brian English and student association president Aimee Grierson both spoke and apologised for the injustices inflicted on the stolen generations.
Canberra
"No [government] apology can go far enough to compensate for the pain and suffering experienced" by Australia's indigenous people, the 50 participants in a Sorry Day action in Canberra on May 26 were told, Ruth Ratcliffe reports.
University of Canberra student Tim Leha said while he believed the government should apologise for the wrongs of the past, any apology granted while present government policies against Aboriginal people were still in place would be hypocritical.
Perth
In Perth, Sean Martin-Iversen reports, students at the University of Western Australia took part in a "Sea of Hands" for reconciliation, while students occupying the Senate building at Murdoch University, in protest against planned cuts to courses, sought to highlight the impact that the cuts will likely have on indigenous studies courses and indigenous students.