Mural of the Queen is defaced on Australia’s Day of Mourning with the artwork covered over by the colours of the Aboriginal flag as protests erupt across the country
- Protesters in Sydney spray-painted an indigenous flag over a mural of the Queen
- The activists painted the red, black and yellow flag on a portrait in Marrickville
- Radio host and commentator Chris O’Keefe was outraged by protesters’ actions
- He claimed activists were trying to ‘censor’ history by painting over the mural
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Indigenous protesters have defaced a mural of Queen Elizabeth II on Australia’s National Day of Mourning, sparking widespread outrage.
Massive crowds gathered in Sydney and across Australia on Thursday to protest the monarchy and call for reforms for First Nations people following the Queen’s death a fortnight ago.
As part of the demonstrations, activists sprayed over the mural in inner-Sydney Marrickville and spray painted the Aboriginal flag over the Queen’s face.
Nine News reporter Chris O’Keefe branded the spray painters ‘disrespectful’ on his 2GB radio show.
‘I say defaced, because the Queen’s face has been covered in yellow paint, with the red and black parts of the flag on the top and bottom it’s terribly disrespectful,’ O’Keefe told listeners.
He also claimed the activists were trying to censor history by covering over the mural.
First Nations activists and allies in Sydney spray painted over a Marrickville mural of Queen Elizabeth II (pictured), earning the ire of radio commentator Chris O’Keefe
Protests were held in Sydney on the National Day of Mourning, with speakers calling for an end to the monarchy (pictured)
Police were seen with a man on the ground during the Melbourne anti-monarchy protest which saw activists marching down the CBD
‘This history needs to be told, and it needs to be taught and as a country, we are coming leaps and bounds in recognising and facing this history,’ O’Keefe said.
‘I strongly believe that censoring this history cannot continue but we are talking about Queen Elizabeth.
‘On a day where she has only been buried three days ago these kinds of offensive remarks do one thing and one thing only, polarise our country.’
Protests continue around the country, with hundreds gathering in state capitals to hear speeches on the effects of colonisation impacting Indigenous Australians.
First Nations activists and allies also burned an Australian flag in Brisbane, and smeared ‘blood’ over an emblem on the British Consulate in Melbourne.
The explosive protests have seen those in attendance call for treaties, a republic and the ‘decolonisation’ of Australia.
The explosive protests across the country saw a group of elders burn Australian flags in Brisbane and activists in Melbourne smear red dye on the British Consulate (pictured)
Protesters held signs calling for treaties, an Australian republic and for the country to ‘decolonise’ itself from the British
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