October 21st 2024.
During a recent visit to Parliament House, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe made a bold statement by interrupting King Charles' speech in the Great Hall. As a proud Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung woman, she shouted out demands for the return of indigenous land and a treaty with the crown. She even went as far as to declare that King Charles was not her king and expressed her frustration with the colonization of her people.
Security quickly escorted Thorpe out of the room as she continued to voice her opinions. This is not the first time she has made her views known, as she has been a vocal advocate for indigenous rights and a treaty with the government. In fact, she believes that a treaty must be established before Australia can even consider becoming a republic.
In an interview earlier that day, Thorpe explained, "There is still unfinished business that needs to be resolved before our country can move towards a republic. This can only be done through a treaty with Indigenous peoples." She firmly believes that the two processes, a treaty and a republic, go hand in hand and are essential for the establishment of an independent nation.
Thorpe's strong stance against colonization and monarchy was evident during King Charles' visit. She was involved in a scuffle with a police officer outside the Australian War Memorial and was seen turning her back as "God Save The King" was played at Parliament House. These actions caused quite a stir, but Thorpe's anti-colonial and anti-monarchical views have been well-known for some time.
In fact, she made international news during the last federal election when she tried to change her oath of allegiance while being sworn into the Senate. Instead of reciting the exact words provided to her, she added the word "colonizing" and raised her fist in the air as a symbol of protest. This sparked controversy, but Thorpe remained steadfast in her beliefs.
As she stated, "We, as First Peoples, never gave up our sovereignty over this land. The Crown invaded our country, ignored our calls for a treaty, and committed genocide against our people. Therefore, King Charles cannot claim rightful sovereignty over these lands. Any move towards a republic must acknowledge and address this injustice, and a treaty must be a central part of the process."
Thorpe's actions may be controversial, but she continues to fight for the rights of indigenous peoples and the establishment of a treaty with the government. As she believes, this is necessary for Australia to move forward as an independent and fair nation.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
