Melbourne Anti-Monarchy Protesters Deface Union Jack

Storyful
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Anti-monarchy protests broke out across Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 22, the country’s national day of mourning for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to news reports, many of the rallies were coordinated by Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, an organization that says it is “committed to the cause of decolonization”.

A statement on the organization’s Facebook page encouraged people to join the “Abolish the Monarchy” rally.

“While they mourn the queen, we mourn everything her regime stole from us: our children, our land, our loved ones’ lives, our sacred sites, our histories,” the statement said.

Footage captured by Twitter user @Aaroncre1 shows protesters removing the Union Jack part of the Australian flag and covering it in fake blood as the crowd cheers and chants “abolish the monarchy.”

According to a post on the Australian Government’s Twitter page, a memorial service was held for the late queen at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Credit: @Aaroncre1 via Storyful

Video Transcript

[CROWD CHATTER]

[CHEERS]

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

- [INAUDIBLE] We really don't need [INAUDIBLE].

- It's not even worth it.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

- [INAUDIBLE] Abolish the monarchy

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

- Abolish the monarchy.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

- [INAUDIBLE] We really don't need [INAUDIBLE].

- It's not even worth.