Religious and cultural leaders have stood with Victoria’s premier to condemn a planned pro-Palestinian protest targeting Myer’s Christmas windows.

Premier Jacinta Allan has branded a group of activists who have since abandoned plans to disrupt the retailer’s famous Christmas window unveiling event in Melbourne on Sunday as “morons”.

Multi-faith community leaders appeared with new mayor Nicholas Reece and Ms Allan, who said there was “no room” for anyone who advocates division.

“That there is a group of people who have chosen to politicize… what is a beautiful tradition and an annual event for children, we condemn it,” Ms Allan told reporters at Melbourne Town Hall on Friday after -noon.

“And in the face of the condemnation I have delivered throughout the day, we have seen these plans canceled. »

She said Victoria Police’s chief commissioner assured her the force had enough resources and a “robust tactical plan” to deal with the weekend’s protests, but ruled out a type license NSW.

“Do we really think that the same kind of morons who want to disrupt a beautiful Christmas tradition for families are going to ask for a permit? They won’t,” the prime minister said.

She flagged proposed anti-defamation and social cohesion laws, which are to be presented to state parliament, and said they were designed to reduce divisions and give police additional powers.

However, the full details of the laws have not yet been made public.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto called the protest plan “disgusting” and said the threat of a demonstration had already scared away Victorians.

He took aim at the prime minister’s response, saying it was “unacceptable that Premier Jacinta Allan is furious but refuses to act”.

“It should not be possible for protesters, under the guise of democratic rights, to intimidate people outside their own city,” he said.

Viewing the Myer Christmas displays in Bourke Street Shopping Center has been a tradition for many families since the exhibition began in 1956.

Activist group Disrupt Wars has planned a “Crash the Christmas Windows” event for Sunday, encouraging supporters to bring banners, flags, signs, noisemakers and props.

As a result, Myer has canceled the annual family event due to safety concerns, but the storefront will remain open as planned.

Since then, the demonstrators have backed down and decided not to continue their action.

The windows will remain open to the public without the annual launch event, from Sundays until early January.

Protest organizer Amy Settal said the retailer’s Christmas campaign was “offensive given the absolute devastation the children of Palestine are currently experiencing” and that the protest would always be non-violent.

“The intention was to disrupt the media spectacle and economic gain sought by Myer,” she said.

“Children who come to see Myer Christmas windows have never been a target, because children are not a target.”

Palestine Advocacy Network President Nasser Mashni said activists had “the right and duty to protest Israel’s genocide and its war on children.”

Earlier on Friday, Victoria Police said they had repeatedly asked the group not to protest outside Christmas window displays.

“There are many ways to get your message across, and perhaps what was planned for Sunday is definitely not one of them,” Acting Commander Tim Tully told reporters.

A separate protest on Sunday, part of weekly demonstrations in central Melbourne, will still take place.

Victoria Police said the group had changed their protest route away from Bourke Street and the force would still deploy officers.