Protesters demand to meet Prince

PROTESTERS took to the streets of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta yesterday, calling for justice for Aboriginal people and demanding a meeting with Prince Charles on the eve of the Commonwealth Games.

A heavy police presence saw roads closed and traffic come to a standstill as a group of around 50 Aboriginal activists marched from Tweed Shire Council offices in Tweed Heads to Coolangatta.

Their march ended at Kirra Hill overlooking Coolangatta Beach, where they draped giant banners reading “Abolish Australia Day” and “No Justice No Games” in full view of the thousands of people expected to attend the popular beach volleyball competition.

The protesters vowed to continue their action for the duration of the event, which they have dubbed the ‘Stolenwealth Games’.

Brisbane Aboriginal-Sovereign Embassy leader Wayne Wharton said the banners would be left on the hill so visitors heading to the beach volleyball could see them and “start a discussion”.

“There’s going to be all these white fellas in the seats around here, I wonder how many black fellas are going to turn up and tell these people what happened to our grandpeople,” Mr Wharton told protesters.

Mr Wharton said the group wanted to meet Prince Charles to discuss the Royal Family’s role in “the dispensing of war in this country”.