Two historic statues in Melbourne were vandalized early Saturday, just ahead of Australia Day celebrations that are expected to draw tens of thousands to protests supporting Aboriginal rights.
A statue of colonist John Batman, a founder of Melbourne and a controversial figure due to his role in the killings of Indigenous people, was sawn in half. Meanwhile, a World War One memorial was defaced with red paint and the phrase “land back,” local media reported.
Australia Day, marked on January 26, remains contentious for Indigenous Australians. The date commemorates the arrival of British colonists in 1788, which many view as the start of violent dispossession and oppression of Indigenous communities.
In Sydney, the sails of the Opera House featured artwork by Wiradjuri-Biripi artist James P. Simon as part of dawn ceremonies, acknowledging Aboriginal heritage and resistance. Similar events are scheduled across the country, followed by large-scale protests.
In Melbourne, authorities warned of disruptions as up to 30,000 demonstrators are expected to march through the central business district, according to local reports.
Protesters continue to call for a shift in national consciousness and recognition of January 26 as a “Day of Mourning” for Indigenous peoples, rather than a celebration of colonization.
