A 68-year-old Christmas tradition in Melbourne is under threat after retail giant Myer cancelled its annual Christmas Windows unveiling event due to planned pro-Palestine protests.
The festive display in Bourke Street Mall, which has been a cherished tradition since 1956, will still be open to the public but without its traditional opening ceremony.
The cancellation comes after activist group Disrupt Wars announced plans to “crash” the Christmas Windows, prompting concerns over customer and worker safety.
This marks only the second time the event has been cancelled since its inception, with the first occurring during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Melbourne department store has announced it will not be unveiling
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The store’s Christmas display in 2021
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The protest group has called for supporters to bring “banners, flags, placards, noise makers and props” to their demonstration planned for Sunday.
“Christmas is cancelled, and there will be no joy or frivolity while children in Gaza are massacred,” the group declared in a social media post.
Disrupt Wars stated their protest was intended to “inconvenience those who would rather bury their heads in the capitalist machine than speak up against a genocide”.
In an interview with radio host Tom Elliot, protest organiser Amy defended the group’s controversial plans to disrupt the event.
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A protest in Melbourne city centre
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The Myer store in Melbourne city centre is the target of the protest
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“So far we have officially over 20,000 Palestinian children murdered and perhaps Australian children have a right to know that our governments are allowing, facilitating, funding, participating in this genocide,” she said.
“Why do those children have more rights to enjoy Christmas than the children in Palestine?” Amy questioned.
The organiser insisted they had “no intention of damaging any windows” but aimed to “interrupt the fun and joy that Myer wants us to share”.
The Myer Christmas Windows are a significant Melbourne institution, attracting approximately 2.4 million visitors annually. Victoria Police has confirmed they are aware of the planned protest and will maintain a visible presence in the city on Sunday.
A spokesperson from the police 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.”
The force noted that a separate pro-Palestine rally planned for later in the day has altered its usual route to avoid the Bourke Street Mall area.
Myer released a statement late Thursday explaining their decision to cancel the 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 retailer said.
The display will remain open to the public from November 17 until early January.