Annette Xiberras:   "I’m really really proud to be on my country today – It’s good to see every one here today fighting for what indigenous people have been fighting for since contact. Pauline Hanson’s got it half right – there is only ONE NATION and that’s the indigenous people of this land.   Racism’s still alive and seeing everyone here today and that everyone still cares – maybe the indigenous people of this country still have a chance. Thank you"   Richard Frankland:   "When our cultures first met they clashed because of attitudes. Today we are left with that legacy – the legacy of trying to resolve that cultural difference. It’s a sad day indeed when a government ignores the people – the people they purport to represent. When the people say "we can reconcile with the original inhabitants of this country" and the government says "No we can’t" . There is a terrible clash here in contemporary Australia that needs to be resolved!   What I’m interested in as an Aboriginal person is a fair go, a fair go in legislation, in representation and reconciliation.   Make no mistakes people, we are at a crossroads in this country – if we take the path that One Nation wants us to take then we are taking the path of 1933 in Germany. We live in dangerous times.   We have a great opportunity in this country to step into the Millennium as leaders of a racial reconciliatory based policy – we have a great opportunity. Instead of sweeping the oldest living culture under the mat in shame we can throw it to the rest of the world as a thing of pride.   When our cultures met there were 500 different Aboriginal nations in this country – I say there were many nations then, let there be many nations now."   Clips and statements from the participants of the rally will be added here soon. Ordinary Australians expressing their feelings about the issues at hand…                   Back