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A CROWD OF angry protesters trapped the Australian prime minister during an event in Canberra yesterday to mark Australia Day.
Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott were at a restaurant in Canberra when a crowd of around 200 people gathered outside shouting “shame” and “racist”.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Aboriginal activists accused Abbott of inciting riots and are calling for an apology.
The two politicians, who had been officiating at an award ceremony for members of the emergency services, were trapped inside the building until riot police were able to escort them out of the building. The Herald Sun reports that protesters ran after their car as it drove away.
Footage of the incident shows protesters scuffling with police as Gillard and Abbott are rushed out of the building:
(Video via unclewooly)
The prime minister’s personal security guard held on to her and stopped her from falling as she stumbled on her way out of the restaurant.
The protests centred on comments made by Abbott regarding the nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy, first set up in 1972 in reaction to the government’s refusal to recognise Aboriginal land rights. Activists objected to Abbott’s recent comments that things had changed in Australia since the embassy’s founding and that it was “time to move on from that”.
Some protesters said later that they had not realised Gillard was in the restaurant with Abbott.
Australia Day marks the arrival of the first British colonists in Sydney in the 18th century and many Aborigines consider it ‘Invasion Day’ because land settlements were carried out without an agreement with traditional owners.
- Additional reporting by the AP
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If the ozzies are this angry with their prime minister, it says a lot about us!
I think the aboriginal activists have every right to protest considering what was said!. I’m sure the aboriginal people’s feel the celebration of Australia day isn’t one worth celebrating and rubs salts into their wounds which are deep!!!
Good enough for her she is quickly destroying that country time she stepped down
Did you actually READ the article – the bit where it said they were after Abbott and many didnt even realise she was there?
That was smallest crowd of 200 people I ever seen. Unless they all hiding other side of camara
Nobody came out winners. Not Abbott for his provocations. Not the activists for their response, first banging on the restaurant windows, then the car. Not the policeman who punched an aborigine in the face. Not the PM’s close security dragging her along the path. Not the PM suffering the indignity of being dragged.
love my country, but Australia Day, on the anniversary of the founding of a penal colony and its consequential disenfranchising of its original peoples – sound familiar? – is something I could happily do without.
Well said Richard
The Aboriginal people call today Invasion Day, its a celebration of a racist nation, with no respect being shown for the true people of that country.
Here here
fair play si,my thoughts too f.t.q
Thanks be to god
from only seeing the clip above, it looks more like it was the cops who were the ones pushing her and her security team
have your say