The Best And Most Powerful Signs From Today’s Invasion Day Protests

Tens of thousands of people have turned out to Invasion Day rallies around the country today to voice their opposition to the national holiday on January 26 and protest the historic and continued inequality faced by Indigenous Australians.

Protests took place in every capital city, and even stretched as far as London, where activists hung a banner from Westminster Bridge calling for Australia Day to be abolished.

Marchers chanted slogans including “always was, always will be Aboriginal land”, “no pride in genocide”, “no justice, no peace, no racist police” and “they say accident, we say murder”.

Many also came bearing signs and placards calling out the hypocrisy and staggering insensitivity of celebrating Australia Day on a date that marks the beginning of a genocide.

On point. #invasionday #invasionday2019 pic.twitter.com/ELhA9sjarT

— Oddish (@O_Lim1) January 26, 2019

True #invasionday pic.twitter.com/l8Xwd2ZRjr

— Shannon McKeogh (@shannylm) January 26, 2019

The best sign I’ve seen at the march today #InvasionDay #AustraliaDay2019 pic.twitter.com/JqWXUm2Jeh

— Kate Pattison (@katepatto) January 26, 2019

So many good placards! “Queers against colonialism!” #InvasionDay #NoPrideInInvasion #NoPrideInGenocide pic.twitter.com/cgS4NZs31h

— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) January 25, 2019

This beautiful sentiment is the author’s best Vietnamese translation of “always was, always will be” #InvasionDay pic.twitter.com/wvqtKtTNIl

— Emily van der Nagel (@emvdn) January 26, 2019

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBeAboriginalLand #NoPrideInGenocide #InvasionDay #ChangeTheNation

A post shared by Rae (@candys.mum) on Jan 25, 2019 at 5:50pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Always was, always will be… 🖤💛♥️✊🏽 #aboriginalland #changethedate #invasionday #wurundjeri #nothappyjan #noyhappyjan26 #abolishaustraliaday

A post shared by Conor (@snorus) on Jan 25, 2019 at 6:54pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

🖤💛❤️ #invasionday

A post shared by C O U R T ✨ (@courtneymcgann) on Jan 25, 2019 at 6:54pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It was a bloody good showing for the Invasion Day rally today from Hyde Park. As a country we must do more to end the ongoing genocide, dispossession and oppression of First Nations people. We’ve got to pay our rent and that means standing in solidarity, supporting and amplifying Indigenous voices and weaponising our privilege to dismantle the racist institutions that continue to oppress Aboriginal people. It’s not just enough to change the date, we need to change the nation. 🖤💛❤️ #invasionday #changethenation #changethedate #alwayswasalwayswillbe

A post shared by Matthew Thompson (@mattthmpsn) on Jan 25, 2019 at 7:06pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#invasionday

A post shared by Ellen Kirkwood (@ln_k_would) on Jan 25, 2019 at 5:58pm PST

While some people used memes and wordplay to make their point, others took a more sombre approach, with signs highlighting issues like Indigenous incarceration and youth suicide rates. Some carried photos featuring the faces of Indigenous Australians who have died in police custody.

There are many powerful signs and banners, but most striking right now are the faces of the people who’s lives were taken in police custody. They’re positioned in a way that faces the police line. Their deaths are mentioned & the crowd shout ‘SHAME’.#invasionday #changethenation pic.twitter.com/IdigulINEQ

— Amy Thunig (@AmyThunig) January 26, 2019

Protesters carry signs demanding justice for David Dungay, Eddie Murray and Eric James Whittaker, who died in custody. #InvasionDay pic.twitter.com/w4SYHBaiXa

— Honi Soit (@honi_soit) January 26, 2019

There’s finally enough space to unfurl our banner! From Don Dale to Manus there’s no pride in detention, no pride in invasion! #InvasionDay pic.twitter.com/K0pOmsg6ks

— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) January 26, 2019

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Day of mourning. #scottmorrisonyourajoke #invasionday #landright #poverty #indigenousrights #education #australia #genocide #melbourne #nt #sydney #perth#adelaide #taamania #broome #darwin #canberra #qld #wa #tasmania #vic #sa

A post shared by artistworx (@artistworx) on Jan 25, 2019 at 7:15pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Balit Narrun festival after the #invasionday #march #2019 #melbourne #aboriginalaustralia #solidarity

A post shared by Oregano McQueen (@reegsgm) on Jan 25, 2019 at 7:03pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Confronting reminders of the injustices of Aboriginal deaths in custody #AboriginalAustralia #shameAustralia The chant ‘the say suicide, we say homicide’ a powerful #InvasionDay chant. #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #BlackLivesMatter #Sydney

A post shared by Tash (@jouljet) on Jan 25, 2019 at 7:13pm PST

---

Feature and additional images via Rae Johnston.