Pro-Palestine protest scrapped hours after Myer cancels Christmas event

There’s been a major update hours after Myer announced it would scrap its annual Christmas windows unveiling over safety concerns.

A planned protest that aimed to disrupt the unveiling of the annual Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne has been cancelled.

This comes hours after Myer announced it would scrap its annual Christmas window unveiling event over safety concerns due to the planned pro-Palestine protest, which is calling for the end of the ongoing war.

The Myer Christmas windows, which have been an iconic fixture of Melbourne’s CBD since 1956, were set to be unveiled on Sunday in front of families and young children at Bourke St Mall.

The Myer Christmas windows have been a longstanding tradition in the Melbourne CBD. Picture: NewsWire / Ian Currie

Speaking to radio host Tom Elliott on Friday morning, pro-Palestine protest organiser Amy Settal said Sunday’s demonstration would be canned.

“In light of the cancellation of the window unveiling, we have chosen to cancel our planned disruption,” she said on Friday. “We’re very pleased with the outcome that Myer has decided to cancel their consumerist party.”

It came a few hours after a Myer spokesman confirmed the unveiling had been scrapped after a planned pro-Palestine protest by activist group Disrupt Wars raised safety concerns.

The protesters, who are calling for a free Palestine, intended to meet at the State Library in Melbourne’s CBD before disrupting the unveiling with placards, noisemakers and banners.

On social media, the activist group explained “Myer would like us to ‘share the joy’ this Christmas, but there is no joy in genocide”.

As part of the protest, the demonstrators aim to “inconvenience those who would rather bury their heads in the capitalist machine than speak up against a genocide”.

Pro-Palestine protesters planned to descend on Bourke St Mall on Sunday to disrupt the Myer Christmas windows. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Following the cancellation, Ms Settal told 3AW that the protest group was “very pleased with the outcome that Myer have decided to cancel their consumerist party” and were “more than happy for the children to enjoy the windows”, which she said were “never a target in the first place”.

Instead, she said the group’s target was the “spectacle” Myer was planning as part of the event, including a stage with musical performances and celebrity guests.

Victoria Police was made aware of the planned protest and confirmed before the cancellation that it would have a “visible presence” on Sunday.

“The Myer Christmas windows are an important tradition in Melbourne’s calendar, with families from across Victoria coming into the city to see them,” a statement said.

“While we always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, we are clear that this should be done without impacting the broader community.”

A follow-up statement from the police said they had “not made any recommendations about cancelling an event on Bourke St to mark the opening of the Myer Christmas windows” and would “continue to work with Myer to support the staging of this much-loved tradition”.

“The community should be assured Victoria Police will have a visible presence on Sunday,” the statement read.

“Any decision to cancel the event sits with Myer.”

The protest is set to take place on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Following the confirmation of the demonstration, Myer confirmed it would be scrapping its unveiling event.

“In light of recent developments and to ensure the wellbeing and safety of customers and team members, we will no longer hold an event on Bourke Street Mall for the unveiling of our Christmas windows,” the statement read. “Myer’s Christmas windows have long symbolised joy and community, and we remain committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all visitors.”

Although the unveiling event has been cancelled, the Myer Christmas windows will still be open for display to the public from Sunday as planned and an will remain open until January 5.