Chicago – October 21, 2024
During a visit to Australia’s Parliament House, King Charles faced a strong protest from Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe, who accused him of “genocide” against Indigenous Australians.
This incident occurred right after King Charles had expressed his respect for the traditional landowners in a speech. Senator Thorpe, known for her activism, challenged the king’s authority and demanded the return of Indigenous lands and a treaty to address historical injustices.
The situation escalated when Thorpe attempted to approach the king but was stopped and escorted out. Despite the interruption, King Charles remained composed and discussed the matter quietly with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the protest as an unfortunate display of politics. Meanwhile, a representative from the palace mentioned that King Charles and the queen were touched by the public’s warm welcome, regretting that they couldn’t meet everyone personally.
