Those opposed to an indigenous voice in Parliament have turned out in their hundreds to No campaign rallies across the country.
The main rally in Sydney’s Hyde Park began at midday on Saturday, although crowds were in attendance. be significantly smaller than the 10,000 people planned by the organizers.
The Melbourne crowd was slightly larger, with some protesters carrying fake information signs as well as the red flag and Eureka stockade flags that were a staple at many Covid “freedom” protests.
In Adelaide, around 200 people gathered in the CBD, while in Brisbane the No protest was overshadowed by a much larger Yes23 rally.
Controversial pro-Putin and anti-vaccine commentator Simeon Boikov, also known as the Australian Cossack, has held his own rallies in support of the No Saturday vote.
Protesters against Indigenous Voice to Parliament gathered in rallies across the country on Saturday (photo)
In Sydney, protesters marched from Hyde Park into the city, although turnout was lower than expected.
In Melbourne, the rally was larger and featured a flurry of red flags popular among “sovereign citizens.”
The Melbourne rally also featured a group dressed in military fatigues who held up a “Voices = Anti-White” banner.
Boikov in 2022 served three months in prison for violating a suppression order after speaking publicly about a then-pending court case.
Upon his release, he told an anti-vaxxer rally that he wanted more equality for Indigenous Australians.
“I want to salute all the indigenous brothers in (prison). “It’s a travesty that the prison population is about 35 per cent Aboriginal, when they make up more or less two per cent of Australia’s population,” Boikov said.
He then criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his alleged lack of concern for indigenous people.
Boikov has been accused of latching onto the anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown movements to gain exposure and sow distrust in Western governments.
The official “No” campaign distanced itself from Boikov, with opposition leader Peter Dutton condemning the rallies and warning people not to confuse them with the official event.
The official rallies took place in the major metropolitan areas of Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, as well as Sydney, as well as regional locations such as Casino and Yeppoon.
Key speakers included conservative politicians like former United Australian Party member Craig Kelly – who was a regular at anti-vaccine rallies – as well as current UAP senator Ralph Babet and New York Liberal Democrat South Wales John Ruddick.
Protesters held signs urging people to vote no, with one man pictured holding a golliwog doll (right)
Protesters suggested Indigenous voice in Parliament was creating discord
Key speakers included conservative politicians like former United Australian Party member Craig Kelly – who was a regular at anti-vaccine rallies – as well as current UAP senator Ralph Babet and New York Liberal Democrat South Wales John Ruddick.
Aboriginal elders held a smoking ceremony before the Sydney gathering and also addressed the crowd.
In Sydney, a smoking ceremony was followed by a traditional dancing ceremony to kick off the two-hour gathering.
Prominent Aboriginal figures Budjiti’s uncle Bruce Shillingsworth senior and Ngunnawal elder aunt Glenda Merritt also spoke at the event.
It is one of the last major initiatives of the No campaign, with less than a month to go before the historic referendum which will determine whether an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice should be created in Parliament.
The rally is being called the “World Rally for Freedom in Support of the No Vote” and is described by organizers as a “wake-up call” to the nation ahead of the Vote referendum.
One woman said she would vote no because she didn’t trust Voice.
The scenes at the Sydney and Melbourne protests (pictured) looked eerily similar to the anti-vaccine rallies held during Covid.
One person brought a sign suggesting Bill Gates should be arrested – a favorite mark of conspiracy theorists
The rally is being called the “World Rally for Freedom in Support of the No Vote” and is described by organizers as a “wake-up call” to the nation ahead of the Vote referendum.
Across town in the north of the city, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strolled through the shops of West Ryde to promote the Yes for The Voice campaign.
Speaking on Saturday during a visit to Sydney’s West Ryde Marketplace with Yes23 supporters, the Prime Minister highlighted singer Kamahl’s change of heart which led him to support the voice.
The 88-year-old said his previous support for the “no” cause was unfounded and that he had changed his mind after speaking with Aboriginal lawyer and voice supporter Eddie Synot.
“We invented a new term today: ‘Kamahlmentum’,” Mr Albanese joked, calling the change of heart a courageous one.
The prime minister said it was clear that while enough money had been spent on Indigenous affairs, that money had not been delivered to where it was needed.
“A voice implies responsibility. You will get greater efficiency…you will get better value when you consult with the people directly affected,” he told reporters.
In contrast, thousands of people gathered to support the “yes” vote in Brisbane on Saturday.
