Australia marks national day

SYDNEY — Government leaders marked a social-ly distanced Australia Day with calming words Tuesday as protesters denounced celebrations of a day some dub "Invasion Day" because of historical wrongs committed against Indigenous people.

The 4,000 protesters who gathered in small groups in Sydney's Domain were warned they could be fined or jailed for breaching limits on large crowds. But many protesters wore masks and adhered to social distancing guidelines, and only a few arrests occurred for not following police orders.

Protest organizers called for Australia Day, which recognizes the day the British navy arrived with convict ships and raised a flag signaling the intent to found a British colony, to be abolished. "They're out there celebrating this day like it's a birthday or Christmas," said Paul Silva, a nephew of David Dungay Jr., who died in police custody in 2015. He said Jan. 26 was "the day when our ancestors were murdered."

Elsewhere in Australia's biggest city, the usually vibrant Sydney Harbour was almost empty as most of the events were scaled back or cancelled to pre-vent the spread of the coronavirus.