‘Invasion Day’: Cook statue covered in ‘blood’

The statue at Catani Gardens in St Kilda has been defaced in the past and security guards were called to protest it last year.

A caller to Melbourne radio station 3AW on Wednesday morning told hosts: “Captain Cook is covered in blood again, it’s the second time they’ve done it.

“They’ve really got him this year. From head to toe. The whole thing has been covered in blood.”

Cleaners have since arrived and are using high-pressure hoses to clean the paint off the statue.

In 2018, vandals wrote “no pride in genocide” on the statue and poured pink paint over Cook’s head.

Victoria Police issued a statement about the incident.

“Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a statue of Captain Cook was damaged in St Kilda overnight on 25 January,” a police spokesperson said.

“Investigators have been told red paint was thrown over the statue which stands in gardens on Jacka Boulevard.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Why some Invasion Day rallies are cancelled

January 26 means different things to Australians and for many it represents a ‘Day of Mourning’, ‘Survival Day’ or ‘Invasion Day — the day in 1788 when the British raised their flag at Sydney Cove to claim the land as their own.

Invasion Day rallies have become a feature of Australia Day for years, but this year will be different.

For the first time since 2015, organisers of the Melbourne event have cancelled. They had initially planned to hold the rally but cited the spread of Covid-19 as a reason not to go ahead.

Warriors for Aboriginal Resistance wrote: “After lots of consideration WAR has decided to cancel the Invasion Day March in Melbourne.

“It would be careless to hold an event in the height of a pandemic and a virus that has taken ahold of so many in our community.

“This is the first time since 2015 WAR hadn’t organised this rally and we want to be on the street fighting for our people but the time isn’t now.”

In its place, an online Invasion Day Dawn Service was held.

Darwin-based resistance group Uprising of the People (UP) have likewise cancelled an event there this year, telling followers to rest instead.

In Hobart, the Invasion Day event has gone online this year and will feature a minute silence, a Welcome to Country and speeches from activists including last year’s Australian of the Year, Grace Tame.

The rest of the nation’s capital citites will hold Invasion Day rallies on the streets.

In Sydney, the event will start at Town Hall at 10am before crowds march down Elizabeth Street to Yabun Festival in Victoria Park.

Organisers have asked those in attendance to wear face masks and socially distance where possible.

Adelaide will host an Invasion Day rally that begins just after midday at Victoria Square. A ticketed smoking ceremony started the day in Adelaide’s Elder Park and events are expected to go well into the evening.

Thousands of people have expressed interest in attending the Invasion Day rally in Perth which corganisers say will take place at Forrest Chase.

“Come and join us January 26th as we gather to speak about the true history of Australia day or invasion/survival day as we call it,” organisers wrote on Facebook.

In Brisbane, marchers will gather early at Queens Gardens to make signs before travelling to Musgrave Park for the main event.

Organisers have told protesters they must wear face masks to participate.

Canberra’s Invasion Day event coincides with the 50th year of the Tent Embassy on the lawns of Old Parliament House.

Thousands of people are expected to gather there from 10am.

Australia Day events around the country, including fireworks displays, have also been cancelled this year.