THE undiminished legacy of a peaceful protest some 163 years ago was celebrated with a stirring re-enactment in Bendigo on Friday.
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In 1853, the Red Ribbon Rebellion saw Bendigo’s miners rise up against the government for its imposition of a mining tax.
The rebellion, in which miners wore red ribbons as a symbol of their opposition, resulted in the removal of the licence fee on Crown Land.
Bendigo Historical Society Society president Jim Evans the rebellion was a “shining example” of how democracy can result in the will of the majority being heard, without the need for violence.
“In a world where war and violence are so often considered the only way to settle our differences, it is essential that we remember those moments where peaceful negotiations have delivered the desired result,” he said.