Lidia Thorpe, a 51-year-old independent senator from Victoria, has made a name for herself as a prominent Indigenous activist and a fierce critic of the monarchy. Known for her bold political stunts, Thorpe was the first Indigenous woman elected to the state parliament of Victoria in 2017 as a member of the Green Party. Despite losing her seat in 2018, she made a comeback in 2020, returning to serve as a senator. Her commitment to her heritage was evident during her swearing-in ceremony, where she raised her fist in a "black power" gesture and wore a traditional possum-skin cloak, carrying an Aboriginal messaging stick adorned with 441 markings symbolizing the deaths of Aboriginal people since the 1991 royal commission investigating deaths in custody.

In 2023, Thorpe transitioned to an independent politician to better advocate for the black sovereign movement, following internal disagreements within the Green Party regarding the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament. She has been a vocal supporter of the need for a treaty between the government and Indigenous peoples, arguing that addressing issues such as incarceration and violence resulting from colonization requires formal recognition and commitment.

Controversial protest

Thorpe garnered significant media attention during King Charles III's recent visit to Australia, particularly after a dramatic outburst in the Australian parliament. Following the King’s speech, she shouted, “You committed genocide against our people, Giving us over land back. Give us what you stole from us -- our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want a treaty in this country. You are a genocidist. This is not your land. You are not my king. F**k the colony. F**k the colony. F**k the colony," Thorpe stated just before she was led out of the hall.

What led to Thorpe’s protest?

For over a century, Australia was a British colony, during which the Indigenous population faced widespread massacres from 1788 to 1930. Although the country achieved de facto independence in 1901, it has not yet established itself as a full republic. King Charles currently holds the position of head of state. 

In 1999, Australians narrowly voted against abolishing the monarchy amid debates about whether the successor would be chosen by parliament members or the public. More recently, in 2023, a proposal to recognize Indigenous Australians in the constitution and to create an Indigenous consultative assembly was decisively rejected.

Lidia Thorpe’s recent demonstration brought attention to ongoing calls for a treaty that would recognize Aboriginal rights and enable Australia to become a republic distinct from the United Kingdom. Thorpe argues that the incarceration and violence resulting from colonization can only be resolved through a national treaty between the government and Indigenous communities. 

In an interview with ‘Breakfast with Kay Burley,’ she asserted that the real sovereigns in the country are Indigenous people, emphasizing that the King, who resides in and is from Australia, cannot be their King, as their bones and skulls are still in his family's possession, and she demanded their return along with the land, calling for the King to take initiative in discussing a treaty with them.

When questioned about her description of the King as “genocidal,” Thorpe responded that there are numerous massacre sites in the nation resulting from invasion, insisting that someone must be held accountable for this, as he is the successor and must provide answers, while her comments sought to raise global awareness of the royals' historical impact on both the local population and Indigenous peoples worldwide.

The Instagram controversy

After interrupting King Charles' speech in parliament by shouting "you are not my king," Indigenous Australian senator Lidia Thorpe subsequently shared a cartoon of a beheaded Charles on her Instagram on Monday, sparking additional controversy. Created by Matt Chun, the cartoon featured the phrase "you are not our king."

Thorpe later removed the cartoon and released a statement explaining that it had been posted without her awareness and that she does not condone violence. She stated in an instagram story, "Earlier tonight, without my knowledge, one of my staff shared an image to my Instagram stories created by another account. I deleted it as soon as I saw, I would not intentionally share anything that could be seen to encourage violence against anyone. That’s not what I’m about."

Public reactions and apologies

The backlash from monarchists was swift, with calls for Thorpe to resign over what they termed a “disgusting” display. Philip Benwell, chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, highlighted the contradiction in Thorpe’s previous allegiance to the monarchy while denouncing it publicly. Former senator Nova Peris also weighed in, expressing her support for Aboriginal rights but distancing herself from Thorpe’s confrontational methods, offering apologies to King Charles III on behalf of respectful Indigenous Australians.

(With input from agencies)