Pro-Palestine protesters gatecrash opening of Myer Christmas windows

A small group of pro-Palestine protesters targeted the opening of the Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne on Sunday morning, pouring scorn on Premier Jacinta Allan for calling them “morons” days earlier.

About 10 activists wearing Palestine flags, keffiyehs and Santa hats stood outside the Bourke Street department store, blew bubbles and chanted: “While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping”, “All Zionists are terrorists” and “Myer, Myer, you hate Christmas, you make money off of Jesus”. They also held signs saying “this moron supports Palestine” and “morons for Palestine”.

Pro-Palestine protesters outside the launch of the Myer Christmas windows on Sunday.Credit: Chris Hopkins

There was a heavy police presence outside the store, but the protest – which attracted a few counter-protesters yelling, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!” – was peaceful.

Hundreds of families flocked to Myer’s annual Christmas windows on Sunday morning.

Some visitors were oblivious to the political storm engulfing the windows display, which usually attracts about 2.4 million people from November to January.

On Thursday, Myer cancelled its launch of the display after a pro-Palestine group said it would disrupt it. Then, on Friday, the group said it would cancel its protest.

Police officers watch the pro-Palestine protesters outside Myer on Sunday.Credit: Chris Hopkins

The issue rapidly turned into a political fight.

Allan called the protesters “morons” at a press conference on Friday and insisted that police had all the necessary powers to deal with unruly protesters. She also rejected the opposition’s calls for the introduction of a protest permit scheme similar to that in NSW.

“Do we really think the same sort of morons who want to disrupt a beautiful Christmas tradition for families is going to apply for a permit?” Allan said at the time.

The protesters left the Myer windows just before 11am on Sunday but promised to return.

The regular pro-Palestine march – which has attracted tens of thousands of protesters some weekends – also took place on Sunday, but police diverted it away from the usual route to avoid Bourke Street.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said it was unfortunate that a small group of the pro-Palestine movement chose to protest at the Christmas windows.

“But thankfully, that’s passed, and the vast great mass of Melburnians are out here taking in what is a great Melbourne tradition. It’s been going strong for 70 years.”

This year’s Christmas windows opening was more modest and had higher security than last year’s official launch, which featured a performance by singer Cody Simpson. On Sunday, a brass band performed inside the store when doors opened, and bollards were erected at the Elizabeth and Swanston street ends of Bourke Street, affecting the 86 and 96 trams.

Melbourne couple Kelly and Brendan enjoy the opening day of the Australia Zoo-themed Myer Christmas windows with their children Mia and Dominic.Credit: Chris Hopkins

But Melbourne couple Kelly and Brendan, together with children Dominic and Mia, said they had not been following the news regarding protests and described the Australia Zoo-themed display as fantastic.

“I love that it’s incorporated something that’s Australian,” Kelly said. “We came to see the windows, we came to see Santa with the kids.”

A Myer spokesperson said the Christmas windows were a “proud symbol of joy and community, loved by millions who visit them each year and we remain committed to providing a safe, positive and welcoming experience for all who visit”.

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