CANBERRA, Australia — An Indigenous senator has ramped up her criticism of King Charles III, accusing the British monarch of being complicit in the “genocide” of Australia’s First Nations peoples. On Wednesday, she firmly stated that she will not be silenced in her fight for justice.

Senator Lidia Thorpe’s remarks came in the wake of a recent interaction with the king during a parliamentary reception. At the event, she was removed after voicing her grievances regarding the historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities, particularly focusing on the seizure of their land and the remains of their ancestors.

Despite the pushback from political circles and public opinions, Thorpe remained unyielding, asserting in a television interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that her determination to advocate for Indigenous rights will continue. “This colonial system is designed to silence Black women in this nation,” she remarked from Melbourne. She went on to assert that numerous elders and grassroots Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals support her stance.

“I have chosen to identify as a Black sovereign woman and will carry on the struggle against colonialism and for justice for our people,” she declared, emphasizing the persistent grievances impacting Australia’s First Nations peoples and specifically mentioned the issue of ancestral remains being held in institutions.

In a direct message to the monarch, Thorpe expressed, “I’m sorry, Charlie, but you cannot come to our land and merely exchange pleasantries while still possessing stolen property. You are in possession of items that were unlawfully taken, making you part of that wrongdoing.”

Thorpe continued to highlight the rampant socio-economic disadvantages faced by Indigenous Australians, criticizing superficial statements that fail to confront the entrenched issues they endure. During the reception, King Charles engaged in a quiet conversation with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese while security personnel prevented Thorpe from reaching him, leading to her being escorted out of the venue.

After his time in Australia, Charles departed for Samoa on Wednesday, where he is set to officially open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.