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Indigenous protest seeking 'frontier wars' recognition shut down by police, say organisers

The organiser of an indigenous group prevented from joining an Anzac Day parade in Canberra has accused police of racism.

Image of protesters at a Anzac Day Frontier Wars March. (Facebook)
Image of protesters at a Anzac Day Frontier Wars March. (Facebook)

Aboriginal protesters are angry after being prevented from following the Anzac Day parade in Canberra.

Police stopped a group of more than 50 indigenous people and supporters joining marchers at the national service while waving flags, beating sticks and chanting "shame".

The group had a banner reading: "Lest we forget the frontier wars".

Organiser Michael Anderson later said they wanted to march up Anzac Parade and lay a wreath to recognise indigenous people killed when Europeans settled Australia.

He said indigenous people had previously been allowed to hold similar commemorations and accused police of displaying "overt racism" on Saturday.

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More than 2000 people marched in the official national service parade in front of dignitaries, including Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and acting prime minister Warren Truss.


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Source: AAP


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