Myer canceled the official opening of its Christmas window on Sunday due to a pro-Palestinian demonstration planned to disrupt the event.

The famous Christmas displays attract large crowds each year, with the annual unveiling being a part of many families’ calendars.

The pro-Palestinian group Disrupt Wars promoted the protest in a social media post.

“Christmas is canceled and there will be no joy or frivolity while the children of Gaza are massacred,” the group said.

Disrupt Wars encouraged protesters to “bring flags, signs, banners, props, noisemakers and lots of energy… to disrupt the Myer Christmas window reveal and disturb those who would rather hide away.” head into the capitalist machine rather than speaking out against a capitalist system. genocide”.

Myer said the event had been canceled “in light of recent developments”.

“To ensure the wellbeing and safety of customers and team members, we will no longer be hosting an event at Bourke Street Mall for the unveiling of our Christmas displays,” Myer said in a statement.

“Myer’s Christmas windows have long symbolized joy and community, and we remain committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all visitors.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen condemned the planned protest.

“I’m just furious that a very small group of people have chosen to not only politicize what is a great event for children and for our community…(but) to use it to try to divide us,” she said. -she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“We cannot let these kinds of ugly protests ruin these beautiful Christmas traditions.

“We would all like the conflict in the Middle East to end…we cannot let this division, this conflict abroad cause greater division here in our great city. That is simply not the case.”

Nick Reece, Melbourne’s recently re-elected mayor, told ABC Radio Melbourne that protesters were “ruining Christmas for the rest of us”.

Opposition MP Georgie Crozier said it was an “incredibly disappointing” situation.

“These activists – they’re not protesters, they’re activists – want to be so miserable and do this to our families who take advantage of the Myer windows that happen every year,” she said.

Ms Crozier said the Victorian Government had been “powerless against these activists for many months” and the Opposition was calling for the “move on” powers to be restored to Victoria Police.

The proposal would give police and courts greater powers to penalize people who protest.

Police try to discourage protests

Victoria Police said they “repeatedly asked” protesters not to disrupt the event.

“However, the group is not cooperating with the police,” he added.

“The Myer Christmas windows are an important tradition in the Melbourne calendar, with families from all over Victoria coming to town to see them.

“While we always respect people’s right to peacefully protest, we are clear that this must be done without impacting the community at large.”

Victoria Police said they would be visible on Sunday and would “continue to attempt to engage with the group in question”.

Police said they did not recommend that Myer cancel the event.

“Any decision to cancel the event rests with Myer,” Victoria Police said.

The Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), a pro-Jewish group, said protesters were sowing anger and division by organizing the event.

“We cannot let the forces of division and fear steal the joy and wonder of this season. These windows are sacred; they belong to our children, to our families, to our community,” said the president of the ADC, Dvir Abramovich.