Pro-Palestinian demonstrators picketed a Christmas fundraiser for blind children this weekend, causing significant disruption. The incident followed similar protests at a Christmas market in London and at a holiday event in California.
Protesters interrupted the Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight event, which raises money for the less fortunate. This occurred amid harsh boos from the 10,000 people present.
During the protest the demonstrators held up Palestinian flags and shouted messages to the crowd.
The event raises money for Vision Australia, which serves vision-impaired children and their families.
The event in Australia was one of a series of protests against Israel across the world.
Last month, demonstrators briefly interrupted the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, gluing their hands to the pavement.
Protesters targeting Christmas celebrations have broken out across the United States and other parts of the world. This includes the disruption of a Christmas market in London this month.
In San Francisco, pro-Palestinian protesters climbed a public Christmas tree, taking off ornaments and replacing it with the Palestinian flag.
Anti-Israel protesters climb a Christmas tree in San Francisco, throwing off Christmas ornaments and replacing them with a Palestinian flag
Stay away from Christmas and our traditions. pic.twitter.com/fPcRx8pVpT
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 24, 2023
On Saturday, protesters blocked roads in Los Angeles, calling for an end to United States aid to Israel.
In New York City, protesters declared that there would be “No Christmas as Usual” as customers approached locations. Furthermore, the protest also centered on St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Included in the protests were chants that described Zionism as antisemitism and supporting Hamas. The current protest followed a number of similar demonstrations in New York over the last three months.
One of the protesters called the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack “one of the greatest days of my life” and “one of the greatest days in the history of decolonization.”
Over the weekend, protesters blocked highway traffic heading to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, there have also been extensive protests in Europe, including in Paris.
There have also been a number of protests supporting Israel, including the large march in Washington D.C. earlier this year.
