Thousands of 'Invasion Day' protests march through cities demanding Australia Day be scrapped Protestors gathering all over the nation to demand Australia Day be scrapped Anthony Albanese stated Australia's history went back at least 60,000 years Labor leader spoke after Australia Day citizenship and flag-raising ceremony By Brett Lackey For Daily Mail Australia Published: 00:29 GMT, 26 January 2022 | Updated: 00:45 GMT, 26 January 2022 Viewcomments Thousands of protesters have gathered in cities across Australia as they prepare to march through the streets demanding Australia Day be scrapped. As Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other dignitaries gathered for an Australia Day citizenship and flag-raising ceremony, Indigenous people dressed in traditional garb conducted a ceremony at Garema Place in Canberra before a minute's silence was held ahead of the march for 'the warriors before us'. Stalls and speech tents have been set up at the tent embassy, situated near Old Parliament House. Thousands of protesters have gathered in cities across Australia as they prepare to march through the streets demanding Australia Day be scrapped Crowds are building at an Invasion Day rally in the Sydney CBD where thousands of people have been met by a large police presence outside Town Hall Protestors were out in force in Sydney on Wednesday (pictured) Australia Day is not a time of celebration for Aboriginal residents across the nation, who often refer to it as Invasion Day Helicopters displaying the Australian flag and a low military flyover contrasted with a seas of shirts displaying the Aboriginal flag and statements of Indigenous sovereignty. Speaking after the citizenship ceremony, federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese said it was important to recognise Australia's history went back at least 60,000 years. 'Which is why one of my priorities will be to recognise First Nations people in Australia's constitution,' he told reporters. 'We should be very proud that we are home to the oldest continuous civilisation on the planet.' In Melbourne, a statue of Captain James Cook was smeared with red paint. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility