Lidia Thorpe Provokes Outcry During Royal Visit

Indigenous Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe has ignited global controversy during King Charles III's visit to Australia by heckling him in parliament, accusing him of genocide and rejecting his sovereignty with declarations such as 'You are not our king.' Following her protest, a beheaded cartoon of King Charles was posted on her Instagram account, which she later claimed was shared without her knowledge and promptly deleted, stating she does not condone violence. Thorpe's actions have drawn mixed reactions; some Indigenous leaders, like Aunty Violet Sheridan and former senator Nova Peris, condemned her conduct as disrespectful to the reconciliation process, while others, like Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, praised her bold stance against colonialism. Thorpe defended her protest as a call for 'global truth-telling' regarding the British monarchy's impact on Indigenous peoples. The incident has amplified the ongoing discourse surrounding Indigenous rights and the legacy of colonialism in Australia, as Thorpe insists on the need for acknowledgment and apology from the monarchy. The polarized responses reflect the complex relationship between Indigenous communities and the Australian government regarding historical grievances.