Australia Day was marked by socially distanced leaders offering calming words as protesters denounced celebrations of a day some dub “Invasion Day” because of historical wrongs committed against Indigenous people.
The 4,000 protesters who gathered in small groups in Sydney’s Domain were warned they could be fined or jailed for breaching limits on large crowds.
But many protesters wore masks and adhered to social distancing guidelines, and only a few arrests occurred for not following police orders.
Protest organisers called for Australia Day, which recognises the day the British navy arrived with convict ships and raised a flag signalling the intent to found a British colony, to be abolished.
Paul Silva, a nephew of Indigenous man David Dungay Jr who died in police custody in 2015, said: “They’re out there celebrating this day like it’s a birthday or Christmas.”
He said January 26 was “the day when our ancestors were murdered”.
Elsewhere in Australia’s biggest city, the usually vibrant Sydney Harbour was almost empty as most of the events were scaled back or cancelled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian used a speech in the city to try to calm tensions.
“We must also recognise, as a mature and decent nation, that today is a day that causes pain for some of our First Nations people,” she said.
“We cannot and should never deny any aspect of our history, or the key milestones that have made us the nation we are today.”
People also have been divided over whether former tennis champion Margaret Court should have been given the nation’s top civilian award, the Companion of the Order of Australia.
The award was given to recognise Court’s service to tennis as winner of a record 24 grand slam singles titles and a mentor for young athletes.
But Court’s tennis achievements have been overshadowed by her outspoken homophobic views.
Journalist Kerry O’Brien rejected an Australia Day award he was to receive this year to take a stand against Court receiving her honour, and Canberra Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo handed back her 2016 award in protest.
Australia Day has greater meaning today than ever before. As a people we have demonstrated our ability to be strong, resilient and compassionate.
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) January 26, 2021
In the capital Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended a flag-raising and citizenship ceremony and told those gathered that January 26 had changed the country forever.
He said: “There is no escaping or cancelling that fact. For better and worse, it was the moment where the journey to our modern Australia began.
“And it is this continuing Australian journey that we recognise today.
“Our stories since that day have been of sorrow and of joy, of loss and redemption, of failure and of success.”
