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December 2, 2008 10:01:10 AM CST

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Aussie PM Apologizes for Aborigine Child Abductions

Posted Feb 13, 08 2:50 AM CST in World 

(Newser) – Australia's new prime minister made a formal apology to the Aborigines today for "stolen generations" of children the government had taken from their homes. Tens of thousands of Aboriginal children were placed in orphanages or foster homes in a century-long program of forced assimilation. Throngs watched on big screens in front of parliament as Kevin Rudd apologized for the practice and spoke of removing "a stain from the soul of Australia."

The crowds, waving Australian and Aboriginal flags, cheered the apology. But many booed and turned their backs during a later speech by the leader of the opposition party, whose members refused to apologize during their 11 years in power. Controversy lingers, but the overall mood was one of relief and optimism. "There's still racism to deal with, but, hopefully, from this day we'll go forward together," one man told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Source Sydney Morning Herald

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Aborigines march on Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Aborigines danced and sang traditional songs in Australia's national Parliament in a historic ceremony Tuesday that...   (Associated Press)
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivers an apology to the Aboriginal people for injustices committed over two centuries of white settlement at the Australian Parliament in Canberra, Wednesday, Feb....   (Associated Press)
Prominent Australian Aborigine Lowitja O'Donoghue, left, and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talk after Rudd delivered an official apology, at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, to its...   (Associated Press)
A member of Australia's Stolen Generation in the public gallery wipes tears away as they listen to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd deliver his speech where he apologized to its indigenous people...   (Associated Press)
A young Aboriginal girl waits with family before marching on Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Aborigines danced and sang traditional songs in Australia's national Parliament...   (Associated Press)
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is seen on a large screen television in central Sydney as he apologized Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, to its indigenous people. Rudd's motion to say sorry of behalf...   (Associated Press)
Aboriginals from Galiwnku Island crowd around to watch the proceedings on the Federation lawn in front of Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Monday February 11, 2008. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd...   (Associated Press)
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