2 years, 2 months ago

How the 1938 Day of Mourning launched the modern January 26 rally

Sydneysiders woke on January 26, 1938, to a warm, clear day of festivities to celebrate 150 years since British colonisation. "Every Australian knows who Dr Martin Luther King Jr is, or would know who Malcolm X is or even possibly Rosa Parks," Mr Patten said. They gave impassioned speeches, mourning the loss of Country, freedoms and fellow mob, and passed the following resolution: "This being the 150th Anniversary of the Whiteman's seizure of our country, HEREBY MAKE PROTEST against the callous treatment of our people by the whitemen during the past 150 years, AND WE APPEAL to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, we ask for a new policy which will raise our people TO FULL CITIZEN STATUS and EQUALITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY." John Patten says much of today's activism is built on the "giants of the past". Jack Patten read out the group's resolution, protesting against the "callous treatment of our people" and calling for equality.

ABC
Community Sydney New South Wales State Library Aboriginal Our People Patrick Stone Mr Patten Jack Patten Sky Thomas Margaret Tucker 26 1938 John Patten Patten Margaret
My grandfather protested against Australia Day in 1938. We'll never have a reason to rejoice on that day
7 years, 2 months ago

My grandfather protested against Australia Day in 1938. We'll never have a reason to rejoice on that day

ABC
Australia

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