Several statues of British colonial figures, including Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria, were vandalized in Melbourne ahead of Australia Day, a national holiday marking the arrival of the British fleet that colonized the country over 200 years ago. The statues were sawed, toppled, and defaced with red paint, with slogans such as 'the colony will fall' sprayed on them. The vandalism occurred amid growing controversy over Australia Day, with thousands participating in 'Invasion Day' rallies, calling for the abandonment of holiday celebrations and advocating for either dropping celebrations or changing the date in solidarity with the Indigenous community, who perceive it as the beginning of colonization.
Melbourne's vandalised Captain Cook monument is unlikely to be replaced after it was knocked over in a slew of anti-Australia Day activity across the country. https://t.co/40fhkxvGRv
Another Captain Cook monument has been severely damaged in Melbourne, with Victoria Police investigating whether the incident is linked to the vandalism of two other statues in the state's capital in the lead up to Australia Day. https://t.co/8pNa3Pmy1S
A Captain Cook statue in Edinburgh Gardens has been vandalised just days after two other statues were targeted in Melbourne. > https://t.co/XjWA5UcgXe https://t.co/Uha7Amh8Mn
Thousands of ‘Invasion Day’ protesters demanded the date of the annual Australia Day celebrations be changed. — in pictures https://t.co/bFqCDgQqjv https://t.co/2kHAOaqOM4
Rallies in Australia's state capitals on the country's national day called for the abandonment of celebrations that mark the day Britain established a penal colony — an event viewed by the Indigenous community as the beginning of their colonization https://t.co/6aB7UcyjhJ https://t.co/JWghzinfJJ
Thousands of Australians protested the anniversary of British colonization of their country with large crowds Friday urging for Australia Day to be moved and for a day of mourning on the holiday some call "Invasion Day." https://t.co/54eDgfaudR
On Australia’s national day, people took part in rallies, waving Indigenous flags and calling for the celebrations to be dropped https://t.co/6aB7UcyR7h https://t.co/BaTZN9fs2y
Protesters showed support for Palestinians as ‘Invasion Day’ rallies were held in major cities across Australia. https://t.co/UHWx6zqqsw
Australia’s national day was marked by large rallies calling for the abandonment of holiday celebrations in solidarity with the Indigenous community, who perceive it as the beginning of colonization https://t.co/6aB7UcyR7h https://t.co/X3DCqa1mid
🇦🇺 Celebration and protest: Aussies mark Australia Day Read more👇 https://t.co/xSMLZCRRx1 https://t.co/Dcfmt6Ko81
Thousands of Australians protested on the anniversary of British colonization of their country amid a fierce debate over whether the increasingly polarizing national holiday, Australia Day (often called ‘Invasion Day’ by Indigenous activists) should be moved to another date https://t.co/NuGLFAmk6m
Watch: Thousands of Australians march through Sydney, protesting the contentious Australia Day, which also marks the arrival of European colonists over 200 years ago. #Australia https://t.co/4mkBpfmkJg
Thousands marked Australia's national day with 'Invasion Day' rallies in support of the country's Indigenous community, as many of them advocate for either dropping celebrations or changing the date https://t.co/6aB7UcyR7h https://t.co/l4trmhHZV0
‘A day to mourn’: thousands protest against Australia Day national holiday https://t.co/Bg1v3pXgxP
🇦🇺 Australians rally nationwide, urging reflection and change on "Invasion Day" https://t.co/D5m7QzsP92 https://t.co/DemoGEyFAu
Australians rally nationwide, urging reflection and change on "Invasion Day" https://t.co/kqTPt3vq1S https://t.co/pw1BfX5HY1
Invasion Day protests around Australia – in pictures https://t.co/h92jSjce3R
Thousands of people turned out at Invasion Day events across the nation today, where speakers called for Australia Day to be abolished. https://t.co/bIrxyNmGdG
Thousands of Australians call national holiday ‘Invasion Day,’ protesting British colonization https://t.co/K71GPK6r3o
Thousands marked Australia's national day with 'Invasion Day' rallies in support of the country's Indigenous community, many of whom want to drop celebrations or move the date https://t.co/XLKjnlLdkH https://t.co/yifP03mmuw
⚠️ THOUSANDS PROTEST AUSTRALIA DAY HOLIDAY WITH 'INVASION DAY' RALLIES Full Story → https://t.co/IpypXa4TQN
Thousands of Australians have gathered at rallies against the Australia Day holiday, which marks the arrival of British colonists in 1788 and has become increasingly contentious https://t.co/HTyr4q8NiG https://t.co/mMmC8Y13hw
🔴 Captain Cook statue sawn off at the ankles in Australia Day anti-colonial protests Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/l0Ga8Gu02n
Captain Cook Statue Toppled, Victoria Vandalised by Anti-Australia Day Extremists https://t.co/yoTObG8H9z
Statues of British explorer Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria were knocked off their pedestals and doused with red paint in the Australian city of Melbourne in the early morning hours ahead of Australia Day https://t.co/ZuNkcMX1iF
"How can you celebrate the equivalent of a Holocaust?" On the eve of 'Australia Day' a statue of Captain James Cook was sawn off at the ankles and a monument of Queen Victoria was daubed in red paint ⤵️ https://t.co/bULmGFRbZW
Two monuments symbolizing Australia’s colonial past have been damaged by protesters ahead of an increasingly polarizing national holiday that marks the anniversary of British settlement. https://t.co/Ge5VPrClp6
Queen Victoria and Captain Cook statues VANDALISED in woke Australian protest claiming 'the colony will fall' https://t.co/Sqy7AXDtrP
Two statues of colonial figures were vandalized in Melbourne, Australia, ahead of a contentious national holiday. While a statue of British explorer James Cook was cut at the ankles, Queen Victoria’s statue was also daubed in paint https://t.co/BFOUlyzfk1 https://t.co/NHuI6U3one
Two #statues of colonial figures were vandalized overnight in the #Australian city of #Melbourne, ahead of a contentious national holiday marking the arrival of the British fleet that colonized the country more than 200 years ago. https://t.co/rK6HtxgB3L
VIDEO: A statue of British explorer Captain Cook has been torn down and defaced on the eve of Australia's national holiday in St Kilda, Melbourne. https://t.co/Yxl1zBcMHX
Watch: A statue of British explorer Captain Cook has been toppled and defaced on the eve of the contentious Australia Day in Melbourne. #Australia Read more: https://t.co/FUpYXMlwlr https://t.co/3qCROXpzIs
🔴 Captain Cook statue sawn off at the ankles in Australia Day anti-colonial protests Find out more ⬇️ https://t.co/zMx1Pc3oKZ https://t.co/RF4FXhOhSJ
Colonial statues targeted in preceding Australia day controversy https://t.co/5BPmRZXflf https://t.co/m4I9PALyW7
Two statues of colonial figures were vandalized overnight in the Australian city of Melbourne, ahead of a contentious national holiday marking the arrival of the British fleet that colonized the country more than 200 years ago https://t.co/BFOUlyzfk1 https://t.co/2YC58dUqLz
Morons: Captain Cook statue vandalised in Melbourne on eve of Australia Day - BBC News https://t.co/J9DvQcl75M
Statues of British colonial figures Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria were damaged in Melbourne on Thursday, as annual Australia Day celebrations were again marked by division and protest. In Melbourne, a statue of Captain Cook was felled https://t.co/ozgH2yfmH6 https://t.co/7hSuYuwPFE
Captain Cook statue is sawed down in Melbourne with the words 'the colony will fall' sprayed in red on the plinth just hours before Australia Day https://t.co/B2nQVelj5Z https://t.co/SsB0ouyS3a
Captain Cook statue cut down in Melbourne ahead of Australia Day https://t.co/YkMprQux3w
Two statues of colonial figures were vandalized in the Australian city of Melbourne, ahead of a contentious national holiday on Friday marking the arrival of the British fleet that colonized the country more than 200 years ago https://t.co/Q6XXoGT3k0 https://t.co/vg73yOA4bO