The annual lighting of the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan will be targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who plan to disrupt the event.
On Wednesday night at 7 p.m., the tree will be lit, but pro-Palestinian groups issued a “call for action,” in which they insisted “Jesus was a Palestinian,” rather than Jewish. The call for action states, “Flood The Tree Lighting.” Demonstrators are urged to bring flags, signs, and wear kaffiyehs.
“We do anticipate that there will be protests in the city on Wednesday — to include around the area of the tree lighting — and at future gatherings around the city in the days and weeks to come, as we have seen over the past seven weeks,” a spokesman for the NYPD’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau stated. “The NYPD will be on hand to protect the tree lighting and all those attending, and we will not tolerate disruption or any threats to public safety.”
The use of the term “flood,” which Hamas used in calling the October massacre of Israelis the “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” was noticed.
Notice it’s not a prayer protest for peace, it openly embraces the Hamas-Iran hate rhetoric of “flood” which was a call to genocide on Oct 7.
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) November 29, 2023
Earlier this week pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted a Christmas tree lighting celebration in Ypsilanti, Michigan, drowning out a children’s choir.
“Feel good about ruining Christmas for little kids?” asks an irritated onlooker.
Pro-Hamas protesters in Ypsilanti, MI, disrupted a Christmas tree lighting, drowning out the children's choir before followed the crowd and wreaked havoc at a planned concert. pic.twitter.com/S3PELEhEqJ
— Canary Mission (@canarymission) November 28, 2023
Pro-Palestinian protesters just disrupted a Christmas tree lighting celebration in Ypsilanti, Michigan, chanting as crowds gathered for the annual event in the city’s historic district pic.twitter.com/bpuCB50n89
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
Last week, pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked the traditional Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, gluing their hands to 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Balloons and floats intended to travel down the street were blocked, forcing the NYPD to divert the parade, The New York Post reported. The parade traditionally ends at Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have glued their hands to 6th Avenue, disrupting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; floats, bands and balloons are being diverted. pic.twitter.com/nYKLGyev87
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) November 23, 2023
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is intended to be lit every day until January 13. On Christmas Day, it is lit for 24 hours, and on New Year’s Eve, it is lit from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.
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The first lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree occurred in December 1933. In 1936, the Center erected two trees and a new ice skating rink was opened in Rockefeller Plaza. During World War II, the tree was adorned with red, white, and blue unlit globes and painted wooden stars. Between 1942-1945, the tree remained unlit because of blackout regulations. The tallest tree at the Center was erected in 1999 when a 100-foot tall tree was placed there. In 2011, after the 9/11 attacks, the tree was decorated in red, white, and blue.
