An annual Australian Christmas event that raises money for families and children who are blind or have low vision was interrupted when pro-Palestinian demonstrators stormed the stage.
The Carols by Candlelight event, which has been held on Christmas Eve in Melbourne since 1938, was being celebrated at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl,
Pro-Palestine anarchists stormed the Carols by Candlelight stage in Melbourne. Children had to be rushed off the stage, as the audience watched in horror.
This org is dedicated to blind children. pic.twitter.com/Jk4eC1Wev1— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) December 24, 2023
Free Palestine activists disrupt Carols By Candlelight in Melbourne.
Multiculturalism means you can't enjoy Christmas with your family anymore.
Deport these people now.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 24, 2023
This is the moment anti-Israel protesters stormed the Carols By Candlelight stage in Melbourne because they hate youse nearly as much as they hate Jews pic.twitter.com/TvpAgvF2WD
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) December 24, 2023
Members of Australia’s Parliament of Victoria also reacted:
What a disgraceful act by Pro Palestinian Protesters to gatecrash Carols just before a kids performance.
Not the time and Not the Place #carolsbycandlelight
— David Southwick MP (@SouthwickMP) December 24, 2023
Its appalling that the #CarolsbyCandlelight has Palestinian activists threatening David Campbell. Remember this is a #Christian festival. #springst #Auspol pic.twitter.com/RYr2CB1bTt
— David Davis MP (@DavidDavisMLC) December 24, 2023
“Funds raised from Carols by Candlelight support Vision Australia’s Life Ready Program, which is designed to encourage and support childhood development and the education of children and young people who are blind or have low vision, so they can form strong foundations for life, true meaningful participation and life-long employment,” The Carols by Candlelight website notes.
The Carols by Candlelight event was catalyzed by radio announcer Norman Banks walking home after work on Christmas Eve 1937. He saw an elderly woman through her window, lit by candlelight, singing along with the song “Away in a Manger” as it was sung on the radio. The next year his idea of having people sing carols by candlelight came to fruition at the Alexandra Gardens on Christmas; 10,000 people attended. The event is currently broadcast and telecast to eastern Asia, many Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
The Australian Girls Choir and National Boys Choir of Australia perform at the event each year.
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On Saturday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted Christmas shoppers in San Francisco’s Union Square. In Chicago, some pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked traffic headed for O’Hare Airport, delaying Christmas travelers from getting to their flights.
On Sunday night, Christmas Eve, pro-Palestinian demonstrators disputed a Christmas caroling tradition at Washington Square Park in Manhattan, blaring music and honking their horns. One 76-year-old caroler told The New York Post, “They disrupted, we sang louder. We weren’t going to let them make this their night. Yeah, it was annoying, but Christmas for me is about making the negative into a positive. I heard that honking and that loud music and said to myself, this is God’s way of telling me I’m not caroling loudly enough. I sang myself hoarse.”
“Carolers of all races and persuasions are caroling together in the spirit of the holidays, and these jerks are driving around with music blasting out of massive speakers and honking their horns incessantly as a tactic to what – annoy the everloving s*** out of people whose support they’re trying to win?” another caroler said.