‘Morons 4 Palestine’ protesters gatecrash Myer Christmas windows
Protesters calling themselves ‘Morons 4 Palestine’ have gatecrashed the famous Myer Christmas windows - but children and families are still enjoying the special tradition.
Victoria
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Families have turned out to enjoy the Myer Christmas windows in defiance of a small group of protesters who tried to destroy the opening.
The protestors - calling themselves ‘Morons 4 Palestine’ - gatecrashed the famous Myer Christmas windows on Bourke St just after 10am.
The name of the protest seemed to be mocking Jacinta Allan who had called the protesters morons only days earlier.
The windows were unveiled about 7.30am on Sunday with little fanfare after the traditional launch was called off due to planned protests.
Eight protestors turned up to the flagship store where they chanted slogans while blowing bubbles.
But the short-lived protest wasn’t enough to ruin the Christmas cheer of the hundreds of families who turned out to Bourke St to enjoy the Australia Zoo-themed windows.
The Griffith family travelled into the city especially to check out the annual Christmas tradition.
Mum, Terese, said while the protesting was a shame, she was pleased her daughters Ava, 7, and Peyton, 3, got to see the windows.
“I was reading up to see whether it was going ahead and I heard about the protests. It’s a bit disappointing but it’s good that we were still safely able to see the windows,” she said.
“It was amazing.”
Kate Lester, who has been attending the windows for 50 years, timed her visit deliberately to avoid the protest.
Ms Lester and her children Amelia, 17, and Tommy, 12, said the protests weren’t enough to ruin the Christmas spirit.
“It’s a tradition of ours (to attend) so I think it’s a shame that it was disrupted,” she said.
“It’s a really sad situation.”
Ms Lester, who describes herself as pro-Palestine, said the protestors hurt their broader cause.
“It’s sad for the families wanting to see the windows,” she said.
Amelia added: “I mean they’re trying to do something good but they practically throwing more fire on fire.
“There has to be better ways to raise awareness. Why not make Palestinian foods and highlight the cause peacefully?”
Sarah, who visited the windows with her son, said it was upsetting that the lead up to the event was marred by controversy.
“It’s such a nice event where the community can come together,” she said.
“It’s a shame that people want to make this about something else.”
The Morris family said the protests thankfully didn’t impact their visit.
“We wouldn’t have come down if they were protesting when we were here,” dad Jason said.
Daughter Lily, 10, said the windows display was amazing.
“It was beautiful,” she said.
Another shopper, who didn’t want his name published, said he was drawn to the area because of the commotion.
“I don’t understand why they’ve chosen to do this here,” he said.
“Let people just enjoy Christmas.”
Western Australia woman Heather Head, on holidays in Victoria to visit her friends and her uncle, said she was disgusted by the protestors.
“We shouldn’t have to put up with this and neither should the children in Australia,” she said.
“It’s unAustralian and I’ve had enough.
“Enough is enough Australia. Time to fight back.”
Protestors began to descend behind Ms Head as she was talking to reporters.
One man walking past the windows shouted at the protestors, urging them to “get a job”.
“You’re all crazy,” he said.
“There’s a time and place. It’s Christmas.”
One protestor, who donned clown facepaint while wearing a police uniform, hurled abuse at a reporter.
“She spent more time doing her makeup than caring about Palestine,” she shouted.
“And she still looks ugly.”
The small group of protestors repeatedly chanted: “Myer, Myer you can’t hide. They’re killing kids in Palestine.”
The protestors, who left the scene just before 11am, threatened to return later in the day.
Further away, doors to Melbourne Central and Emporium shopping centres later shut as pro-Palestine protestors took to the streets about 1pm.
Hundreds of protestors forced police to close Lonsdale St, meaning Sunday shoppers were stuck inside part of the shopping centre.
The group - which onlookers say is considerably smaller to previous weeks - took a different route to their usual march.
Beginning at the State Library on Swanston St, the group turned right at Lonsdale St - rather than continuing on to Parliament House.
Motorists leaving the shopping centre were forced to sit in their cars and wait.
Meanwhile, back at the Myer windows, a heavy police presence remained on standby for any protest threat, as trams down Bourke St.
The move to maintain strong police numbers at the popular shopping strip comes after a subsection of pro-Palestine activists forced the cancellation of its much-loved annual launch.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss Paul Guerra told the Sunday Herald Sun he wanted to see the introduction of permit protests before it was too late.
He said protests should only be allowed in certain areas, a sentiment that was echoed by Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association head Wes Lambert.
“The hospitality industry is suffering a crisis of historical significance in Melbourne’s CBD due to the unrelenting protests that have marred our city,” Mr Lambert said.
“Today we are calling on the Premier Jacinta Allan to urgently take immediate steps such as introducing a permit system and strengthening move laws while also considering allocating dedicated areas for genuine protests that do not impact on the economy of CBD and its workers and businesses.”
The move to maintain strong police numbers at the popular shopping strip comes after a subsection of pro-Palestine activists forced the cancellation of its much-loved annual launch.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss Paul Guerra told the Sunday Herald Sun he wanted to see the introduction of permit protests before it was too late.
“…There will be social and economic consequences if that eventuates, we need to do something. The way forward, as New South Wales and other states have done, is to bring in a permitting system,” Mr Guerra warned.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece yesterday urged Victorians to not be deterred by ongoing protests in the CBD, saying it was more important than ever for people to visit the city.
“I would encourage all Melburnians to come in and get a big dose of Christmas cheer by visiting this year’s Christmas festival in the city this year, more than ever.” Mr Reece said
“I remember coming to the Christmas Windows as a boy.
“It’s a rite of passage in childhood in Melbourne, and I’m looking forward to taking my own daughters to the windows on Sunday.”
But he stopped short of calling for the state government to introduce protest permits but said “all options” should be on the table to limit protest activities.
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