All The Best Signs From The 2020 Invasion Day Protests

Thousands of people marched across the country on January 26 to mark Invasion Day, the anniversary of a day that kicked off decades of colonialism and oppression in Australia.

January 26 is the date the First Fleet landed on our shores back in 1788, a day which some people are determined to celebrate despite the painful legacy of that event.

It is considered a day of mourning for many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and protestors have long pushed for the date of Australia Day to be moved to a more inclusive day.

Here are some of the best signs from rallies across the country this year.

#AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #InvasionDay2020

Tens of thousands on the streets in Naarm (Melbourne) pic.twitter.com/EOj5sIInOE

— Julia Dehm (@juliadehm) January 26, 2020

Simple really #InvasionDay2020 pic.twitter.com/hI4p6sEl30

— Eugene McGarrell (@EugeneMcGarrell) January 26, 2020

 

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A post shared by ABC Indigenous (@abcindigenous) on Jan 25, 2020 at 9:55pm PST

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A post shared by Rhiannon Bowen (@rhigraffiti) on Jan 26, 2020 at 3:31pm PST

 

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A post shared by Damien Minton (@damienminton) on Jan 26, 2020 at 11:22am PST

Turning up with my tribe like…#AbolishAustraliaDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #InvasionDay2020 #PayTheRent #4077 pic.twitter.com/pzXbDvq8n8

— ungrateful native (@drcbond) January 26, 2020

TRUTH in numbers TRUTH in banners ?? #AbolishAustraliaDay #InvasionDay2020 #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe pic.twitter.com/5TbUual8FN

— Antoinette Braybrook (@BraybrookA) January 26, 2020

 

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A post shared by Friends of the Earth Perth (@foeperth) on Jan 26, 2020 at 4:43am PST

 

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A post shared by Girl Wild (@girl_wild_australia) on Jan 26, 2020 at 3:05am PST

 

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A post shared by Jess Feneley (@jessfeneley) on Jan 25, 2020 at 8:30pm PST

#InvasionDay Rally building at Hyde Park on Gadigal Land #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe pic.twitter.com/X0aAr9ZelL

— Rachael Hocking (@Hocking_Rachael) January 25, 2020

Just starting to assemble the queer contingent for the Invasion Day march in Naarm #InvasionDay #AbolishAustraliaDay #PayTheRent pic.twitter.com/51J8otltpO

— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) January 26, 2020

 

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A post shared by Cee Watego (@ceewatego) on Jan 25, 2020 at 7:27pm PST

 

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A post shared by Caro (@instacarolinex) on Jan 25, 2020 at 7:50pm PST

Some also took the opportunity to highlight other issues like historic Indigenous land management techniques, which the recent bushfires have drawn attention to.

Others called for an end to deaths in custody — since the royal commission in 1991, more than 400 Indigenous people have died while in custody.

No climate justice without First Nations justice#InvasionDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #InvasionDay2020 pic.twitter.com/hFUPNRZhPS

— Ben Gore (@benjaminlsgore) January 26, 2020

here in melbourne adding our voices to the #InvasionDay2020 protests & speeches.
if you’re here, let me know where.
currently at corner of bourke & swanston. pic.twitter.com/AswsycAy2z

— Amanda Palmer is touring Australia and Aotearoa (@amandapalmer) January 26, 2020

From Don Dale to Nauru
No pride in detention
No pride in prisons #InvasionDay2020 pic.twitter.com/qFr3CccL8F

— chrissy. (@cksaunders14) January 26, 2020

In London protestors also gathered at a statue of Captain James Cook, who landed in Australia in 1770 and claimed the country for Britain.

Australians and allies send solidarity to First Nations people on Invasion Day from the Capt Cook statue in London #alwayswasalwayswillbe #InvasionDay2020 #AbolishAustraliaDay ✊✊
photo credit to James Taylor pic.twitter.com/VMmtWxRoLk

— London Australia Solidarity (@LdnAus) January 25, 2020

Then there’s this guy, who has the right intentions.

#Hobart #InvasionDay2020 even this guy knows ??❤️ pic.twitter.com/TwAwQ83h53

— ?Kimbolo? (@KimVeronica47) January 26, 2020