Sad sight at iconic Christmas show in Melbourne after pro-Palestinian supporters undermine a 70-year tradition

Protesters have stormed the iconic Christmas window unveiling in Myer as families tried to celebrate the 70-year festive tradition.

The pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the Myer Christmas windows on Bourke Street, in Melbourne’s CBD, just after 10am on Sunday.

The group had threatened to destroy the revelation to raise awareness about the ongoing war in Gaza.

Myer canceled the traditional grand opening and opted for a largely scaled-back rendition, with Santa Claus and some Myer employees pulling down the curtain on the Australia Zoo-themed windows at 7.30am.

Protesters had called off their disruptive plans, but a small handful attended the early morning unveiling as part of a ‘Morons 4 Palestine’ protest.

They were heard chanting slogans, including “the bombs are falling while you’re shopping,” as they blew bubbles down the street.

The protest group, which initially threatened with a large demonstration outside the windows, is separate from the organizing group that has been conducting protests through the city every Sunday since October 7, 2023.

One vocal protester made her presence known by shouting “free Palestine” during a live television cross to a reporter.

Pro-Palestinian protesters crashed the unveiling of the Christmas window display at Myer in Melbourne’s CBD

One protester wore clown makeup and a fake police uniform with the sign “You look stupid staring at the windows while children are being murdered.”

The protester, dressed as a police officer and wearing clown face paint, held a sign that read, “You look stupid staring at the windows while children are being murdered.”

She hurled insults at the reporter and shouted during the live television interview: ‘She spent more time on her make-up than worrying about Palestine.’

“And she still looks ugly,” the protester shouted.

The small group of protesters repeatedly chanted, “Myer, Myer, you can’t hide. They are killing children in Palestine.”

The name of the protest, ‘Morons 4 Palestine’, appeared to mock Victorian Prime Minister Jacinta Allan, who had called the protesters idiots earlier this week.

In light of the protest figuratively clashing with a family Christmas tradition, Prime Minister Jacinta Allan this week faced questions over whether Victoria needed a NSW-style protest permit system.

“Do you really think that the same kind of idiots who want to disrupt a wonderful Christmas tradition for families are going to apply for a permit?” she said Friday.

“(The windows) will be open for the thousands and thousands of Victorians from all different backgrounds, from all different parts of the state, to come and enjoy that wonderful family tradition,” the Premier said.

However, the small-scale protest did not stop Australian families from visiting the flagship store for the Christmas unveiling.

Mother-of-two Terese traveled to Melbourne’s CBD from Griffith with her daughters Ava, seven, and Peta, three.

Terese said that while the protesters were disappointed, she was happy her daughters were able to see the display.

It’s a bit disappointing, but it’s good that we could still see the windows safely. It was amazing,” Terese said The Herald Sun.

Kate Lester said she deliberately timed her visit to the storefront to avoid the protesters.

Mrs. Lester, along with her 17-year-old daughter Amelia and 12-year-old son Tommy

Kate Lester, who has been visiting the shop windows for fifty years, deliberately timed her visit to avoid the protest.

Mrs Lester and her children Amelia, 17, and Tommy, 12, said the protests were not enough to spoil the Christmas spirit.

“It’s a tradition of ours (to attend), so I’m sad to see it disrupted,” she said.

“It’s really a sad situation.”

Ms Lester, who describes herself as pro-Palestine, said the protesters were damaging their wider cause.

“It’s sad for the families who want to see the windows,” she said.

Amelia added, “I mean, they’re trying to do something good, but they’re practically adding more fire to the fire.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, which organizes weekly marches through the city, led the demonstration away from Myer.

Oxfam says starving Palestinians is a military tactic, and aid agencies estimate that 96 percent of Gazans face major food shortages.

Since October 7, 2023, at least 43,000 Gazans have been killed in direct conflict – about 70 percent of them children or women.

Some families still stopped on Sunday morning to check out the latest edition in the windows

Myer scrapped plans for a grand opening of the windows, which have a zoo theme this year

Australia this week changed its position at the UN for the first time in two decades, joining 158 other countries, including Britain, New Zealand, France, Germany and Japan, in voting for a resolution to declare the country’s “permanent sovereignty” Palestinian people in the world’. Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan about their natural resources.

The US, Canada and Israel were among seven countries that voted against the resolution.

Myer in central Melbourne has displayed decorative Christmas windows every year for the past 70 years.

Information from Myer shows that the first window display, ‘Santa and the Olympics’, was installed in 1956.

The most recent exhibition themes are: Bluey (2023), Disney 100th Anniversary (2022), Peter Rabbit (2021) and Christmas is Uncancelled (2020).