Important And Powerful Signs We Saw At Invasion Day Rallies Across Australia

January 26 is never just “a day off”. For First Nations people, it marks invasion, genocide and the beginning of more than two centuries of dispossession, and every year mobs of people across so‑called Australia hit the streets to make that clear. Today’s Invasion Day rallies and marches were once again full of signs that cut straight to the point — calling out ongoing colonial violence, demanding real justice, and reminding everyone that sovereignty has never been ceded.

 

In Naarm, thousands gathered on the steps of Victorian Parliament after a dawn service at Camp Sovereignty.

On the steps, Krauatungalung Elder Uncle Robbie Thorpe did not mince his words, describing the occupation of this continent as being based on “a monumental lie called Terra Nullius — a legal fiction” and said, “We’ve got to take this treaty a lot higher than what it is at the moment. We want our sovereignty recognised. We never ceded it.”

@pedestriantv “What came here 256 years ago wasn’t a law, it was an act of terrorism.” #invasionday #jan26 #january26 ♬ original sound – PEDESTRIAN.TV

Thousands carried hand‑painted placards, banners and flags. Some signs went for the simple, gut‑punch messages that have been staples of Invasion Day. Here are some that stood out:

“Kids in culture, not care.”(Image: Supplied)

“Change the date.” (Image: Supplied)

“Not a date to celebrate.” (Image: Supplied)

“It’s not war, it’s colonisation.” (Image: Supplied)

“Hot people do not celebrate colonisation.” (Image: Supplied)

“Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody now!” (Image: Supplied)

“Get in mate we’re going to change the date.” (Image: Supplied)

Racism is ‘lil budoo energy. (Image: Supplied)

Around the country, people also turned out in their thousands with equally direct messages:

Protestors rally at Parliament House in Canberra (Image: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)

Invasion Day rally at Hyde Park in Sydney. (Image: Audrey Richardson/Getty Images)

First Nations people and supporters in Sydney. (Image: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Hyde Park. (Image: Audrey Richardson/Getty Images)

If you weren’t able to get to a rally today but still want to spend time reflecting on what January 26 represents, there are events and festivals continuing into tonight in some cities that you can head along to instead. You can find a rundown of those HERE.

And even if you can’t physically show up anywhere, there are still plenty of ways to back First Nations communities — from supporting Blak‑led orgs and creators, to paying the rent, to having hard conversations with the people around you. There are also guides on how to show your allyship and how to properly show up for your First Nations mates if you’re not sure where to start.

At the end of the day, this place has always been home to hundreds of First Nations and their laws and cultures, and that sovereignty has never been given up. Those of us who are settlers are living on land taken through invasion, genocide and ongoing dispossession, and that’s something we each have a responsibility to sit with and act on — not just on January 26, but all year round.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

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