City traffic gridlock as rally marks NAIDOC Week

Protesters chanting “no pride in genocide” caused traffic gridlock across Melbourne’s CBD during a NAIDOC Week rally.

Traffic was brought to a halt and trams were cancelled causing delays and commuter chaos for about three hours on Friday, as rally attendees celebrated the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Up to 3000 people marched from Fitzroy to the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets waving Aboriginal flags to stand in solidarity with First Nations communities.

A heavy police presence did not dampen spirits as people of all ages and backgrounds joined communities across the country celebrating the week-long event.

Activist and founder of Indigenous organisation Wanyara, Sarai Roe, a proud Yorta Yorta woman, said the peaceful march was a great way to showcase the achievements of Indigenous people.

“It’s a great way to celebrate and I think with all the negative things that we see in the media, I don’t want my children to be feeling the harshness of that so being able to see our mob in this light and the celebration of our mob is great,” she told AAP.

Calls for justice, systemic reform and land rights took centre focus at the rally, which 16-year-old Indigenous student Beau from Wallan said was an important conversation.

“It’s very important to let everyone know that it’s our week and that our land has been stolen off us,” he said.

Frustrated commuters travelling along Bourke and Swanston streets scrambled to find alternative transport as multiple tram schedules were disrupted.

“This happens a lot, people get angry when trams are cancelled and we’re left to deal with it all,” one Yarra Trams worker said.

NAIDOC is an acronym for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

It is rooted in Aboriginal activism and the 1938 Day of Mourning, with events held in the first week of July each year to celebrate First Nations history, culture and achievements.