But Monday’s March in March rally in front of Parliament House attracted one masked man carrying a replica molotov cocktail — or firebomb — in his backpack.
Canberra schoolgirl Hope Jenkins, 15, held a sign labelling the Prime Minister an “evil fascist” and wore a shirt emblazoned with “F**k Tony Abbott”.
Other signs included “abort Abbott’’, “sink Abbott’s boat”, “Prime Minister for Misogyny”, “Tony you ignorant pig”, the Prime Minister digitally manipulated as a Pig under the word “oink” and another picture of Mr Abbott and the phrase “ditch the drongo”.
One sign apparently suggested it was the PM’s responsibility to find the missing Malaysian Airlines plane, saying “Where’s the (censored) plane Tony Abbott?”
Schoolgirl Hope Jenkins, 15, makes her opinion known at the March in March protest in Sydney / Picture: Kym SmithSource: DailyTelegraph
The year 11 student was among about 1000 protesters to attend the rally including Greens MP Adam Bandt, who said he saw no issues with his attendance, which included speaking and accepting a State of No Confidence in the government.
Deputy Greens Leader Adam Bandt at the March in March protest in Canberra / Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Corp Australia
The Greens plan to have the ‘March In March’ statement tabled and debated in parliament.
No other MPs were believed to have attended but Labor backbencher Graham Perret tweeted his support with picture taken from the house up on the hill.
“Great turnout out front of Parliament House for Canberra’s #MarchinMarch,” Mr Perret said.
In 2011, there was uproar from the left when then opposition leader Tony Abbott attended a similar rally at the same site with offensive signs such as “ditch the witch” attacking then prime minister Julia Gillard.
Mr Bandt said the rally showed the unhappiness with the new government but insisted he did not see anything to inappropriate there.
“I didn’t see all the signs and certainly didn’t see anything offensive today,” he said.
The protest did not have a single policy issue focus but rather was a gathering of people who were dissatisfied with the Abbott government.
Hope, a year 11 student, said she was “more left-leaning definitely”. “I wanted to be there for the march to let everyone know that people do care about this stuff,’’ she said.
“I’m really passionate about helping the environment. He’s already dumping in the Great Barrier Reef and deforestation in Tasmania. I don’t like his stance gay marriage.”
Her dad, Hayden, said he was fine for her to wear the shirt — he helped buy it as a looming 16th birthday present — but as long as it was not worn at school.
“I gave her some money towards her birthday present and I just thought, why not?’’ he said.
“I’m a Labor supporter.’’
Protestors on the lawns in front of Parliament House in Canberra for March in March / Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Corp Australia
The black-clad man and his “bomb” with the Parliament House spire in the background.
March in March organiser Tim Jones later claimed in a radio interview that the unknown man was quickly thrown out of the rally by disgusted officials.
Jones told 2GB that the replica bomb and face mask sent the wrong message about the rally’s purpose.
“If you want to be a thinking citizen, you show your face,” Jones said. Jones also revealed that March in March organisers had fought against infiltration of their movement by the anarchist online group Anonymous.
The appearance of the masked man and his replica bomb yesterday followed widespread condemnation of March in March signs and banners during weekend demonstrations around Australia.
Some signs compared Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Hitler, while one simply read: “Kill Abbott.”
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