Sydney, September 22 (RHC)-- Thousands across Sydney and Melbourne gathered to protest the national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, calling for more Indigenous rights. In Sydney, protesters rallied at Sydney Town Hall and marched through the central business district, denouncing the monarchy and the impact of Britain's colonisation on First Nations people.
"The monarchy represents everything that's wrong with the world today. The fact that a group of unelected, born-to-rule people, get to live in gold-plated palaces while the rest of us can't even afford heating during the winter. So I think that's why we need to be out here today," protester Brendan Tate told Reuters from the streets of Sydney.
In Melbourne, around 600 protesters led by a group called The Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, marched from Flinders Street Station to the British consulate, where they rubbed red-painted hands on the wall.
"Abolish the monarchy - down with the king!" they chanted outside the consulate building while carrying placards and signs. Thursday was declared a national holiday and a memorial ceremony was held at Parliament House in Canberra for Queen Elizabeth, who died on September 8th.
