Iran Press/ Asia: Senator Lidia Thorpe stormed into the hallway after King Charles' speech, shouting, “You are not our king. You are not our ruler. You committed genocide against our people.” Thorpe, a prominent Indigenous rights advocate, was quickly intercepted by security personnel as she continued to denounce the monarchy, demanding the return of lands and resources taken from Australia's Indigenous population.
In a video released by The Guardian, Thorpe’s statements included, “Give us back our land. Return what you stole. You destroyed our people, our land. You are murderers. This is not your country.” Referring to the British colonization, she highlighted the destruction brought upon Indigenous Australians, accusing the monarchy of committing atrocities, including genocide.
As Thorpe was escorted out of the parliamentary building, she continued chanting, “Damn the colony!” and reiterated that Charles is not Australia's king. The disruption occurred just before King Charles and Queen Camilla left the chamber.
Indigenous Australians have long expressed grievances over the colonial legacy of the British monarchy. Many call for an independent republic, free from ties to the United Kingdom. The emotional protests come in the wake of ongoing discussions around Australia's colonial past and its future relationship with the British monarchy.
In 1999, Australia held a referendum on whether to become a republic, but 54.87% of the population voted to retain the constitutional monarchy. Despite this, many Indigenous Australians, who comprise less than 5% of the population, continue to advocate for change, citing the lasting impacts of British colonization on their communities.
The recent death of Queen Elizabeth II has reignited debates about Australia’s future within the Commonwealth, with similar discussions taking place in other Commonwealth nations, including Canada.
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