Australia Day 2012 - riots, protests, cannibalism? Nah, just crap journalism

Read this article: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3802766.html
26 January 2012: 'Amnesia Day'. WTF happened? People gathered in front of Old Parliament House to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. The peaceful day was suddenly interrupted when someone announced that Tony Abbott was speaking to the press only meters away from the site. (It is important to know that, that very morning, the mainstream media (eg. Sky News) had reported that Abbott had made a provocative statement to the press - that the Embassy should be removed - which predictably caused anger among the Embassy crowd. As it later turned out, the media had distorted Abbot's actual words, which were: "...I think a lot has changed since then and I think it probably is time to move on from that". The events that followed can be traced back to this sub-standard and incompetent bit of shitty journalism. Whichever way you look at it, Abbott's statement was ill-chosen - given the significance of the day - implying as it did that the Embassy no longer served a vital purpose and that Aboriginal people should get over the past, accept a token apology, and "move on". Nevertheless, if Abbott's actual words had been reported correctly, the Embassy crowd might not have reacted with such anger. Instead, the Embassy crowd rushed to confront the Leader of the Opposition about his inflammatory statement. Within minutes, they had grown and surrounded the glass-walled restaurant, chanting/banging on the windows, disrupting the function (at which PM Julia Gillard also happened to be present). 10 minutes into this rather surreal scenario, Police and Security decided to launch the PM directly from the restaurant into her car - very nearly injuring her - and causing her to lose her shoe. (Commit the memory of that shoe to your minds, dear readers). This sudden event caused the crowd to lose control. Some people attempted to impede the car carrying Abbott & Gillard from leaving, whereupon police reacted with force and threatened the use of batons and pepper-spray, which very nearly escalated the situation. Fortunately, no injuries were incurred.

To add to the above example of crap journalism, news reporters for mainstream channels such as Ten exaggerated early reports from the scene by characterizing it as a violent "riot". In fact no-one attempted to touch the PM or Mr. Abbott. Whilst exaggerating the level of violence, several early reports also failed to mention that the reason for this behaviour was not mere hooliganism, but rather Mr. Abbott's alleged statement regarding the Embassy. By the time that the full picture was reported in later reports, headlines depicting the PM being assaulted by a violent horde of savage natives and feral hippies had already gone around the world.

Whilst the crowd did not behave in the best way, no-one advocated violence and it was clear that no-one - including the PM or Mr. Abbott - felt physically threatened. The whole thing was turned into a spin story which has no-doubt damaged the image of the peaceful and diplomatic mission of the Aboriginal community and its supporters. Worst of all, it gave hundreds of rednecks - who were not present at the event - a perfect excuse to publicly vent their racist invectives against Aboriginal people all over the country. Embassies are about diplomacy, not violence.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Australia
• Day
• Julia
• Gillard
• Tony
• Abbott
• Aboriginal
• Tent
• Embassy
• anniversary
• Michael
• Anderson
• Paul
• Coe

[MrGOTAMA420]

LOOKS, LIKE THE AUSSIE PM IS A RIGHT POPULAR FELLOW....

[joifulblonde]

After watching this video several times, it CLEARLY shows that Michael Anderson pushed the police officer with his left arm (It's allways bad idea to push an officer) It also looks like the officer was trying to intentionally provoke Mr Anderson. These situations are allwasy heated and this one was no exception.

[roflcopterkklol]

@willarawyatt You are just as racist as they are, You do know that white people are a race of people as well?

Racism goes both ways fucktard.

[willarawyatt]

@roflcopterkklol I have a right to call you's racist because you's are racist can you read the comments what people are writting pfffttt so called Australians nothing but racist cunts!!

[roflcopterkklol]

@willarawyatt I believe you are being racist, Motherfucker.

You aboriginals have all the ability to be as wealthy as the white man, more so actually but many choose not to, if you cared to take notice any aboriginals that have wanted to succeed in life have been given all the tools they need to help them get there and are living very prosperous lives.

What gives you the right to call another group of people you do not know racist?

is it because you belong to a race?

You fucking racist.

[willarawyatt]

Yeaaah you's people are rich coz you came to our land and stole our reasources , you's deserve everything you's get you racist motherfuckers!!!

[nursepatsie]

all i seen was that the pests what the camera men getting in the way!! oh and one dread locked idiot got smashed lmfao i would not mind finding out who the lady that alerted the aboriginal elder to the pm i think we should put her on trail for starting the shit!!!! if she did not alert them none of this would have happened. i like at the end how the aboriginal elder directed everyone away and they all listened

[gunailad]

The biggest welfare is stolen wealth, you would all be poor in a shit nation without Aboriginal stolen land, you's are the biggest bludger in the world, miners are the biggest crims alive, cant wait until we gain control of our resorces, the bludger miners will be poor physically like they are morally, dead prez has started the rise across the globe, cant wait until he gets back, hope you bludgers are ready for the future, you may have to earn something, not bludge off stolen land, whingers

[gunailad]

Im half European and half Koori, who wants to be involved in a capitalist system that WILL collapse when resourses run out, thats backwards, its an easy choice when your soul isnt poisoned by greed, when you trully understand both sides

[450Diamond]

I'm guessing all those coons were on their day off work? Oh that's right I forgot they are dependant on the dole and do not work for anything and the government thinks it can solve a problem by throwing money at it.