<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>333178</docID> <postdate>2024-11-15 11:38:03</postdate> <headline>Protesters call off Myer Christmas window action</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-333179" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20171112001323575053-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="660" /></p> <caption>Myer's Christmas windows is an annual tradition which has been held for almost seven decades. (Mal Fairclough/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Caitlin Powell</strong> in Melbourne</span></p> <div class="wire-column__preview__text" id="preview-body"> <p><strong>Pro-Palestine activists have dropped plans to disrupt Myer's famed Christmas window unveiling after they were accused of politicising the tradition.</strong></p> <p>Activist group Disrupt Wars was going to "Crash the Christmas Windows" on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD on Sunday, with banners, flags, placards, noisemakers and props.</p> <p>However, their plans changed following backlash from the state's premier who was angry Myer had to cancel the annual event for families on safety grounds.</p> <p>"The children coming to see the Myer Christmas windows were never a target because children are not a target," protest organiser Amy Settal said on Friday.</p> <p>"In light of Myer's decision to cancel their window reveal event, planned disruptions will not go ahead."</p> <p>Myer cancelled the event on Thursday evening to "ensure the wellbeing and safety of customers and team members".</p> <p>However, the department store retailer's Christmas window display will be visible, as planned, from Sunday until early January.</p> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan had condemned the protest action as "ugly" and criticised the activists for ruining "these beautiful Christmas traditions".</p> <p>"Blocking Christmas windows is not going to change one single thing in the Middle East," she told ABC Radio.</p> <p>"This is a really small group of people who are choosing to politicise Christmas, to politicise a beautiful event."</p> <div class="embed-block"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered">Earlier, Melbourne's Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he hoped the protesters organisers would "realise that this is a really dumb thing to do".</div> </div> <p>Ms Settal said the protest would have been peaceful and non-violent.</p> <p>"Myer's 'share the joy campaign' is offensive given the absolute devastation children in Palestine are experiencing right now," she said in a statement.</p> <p>"Celebrating overconsumption while the historic birthplace of Jesus is under bombardment is abhorrent.</p> <p>"The intention was to interrupt the media spectacle and economic gain sought by Myer."</p> <p>Victoria Police had repeatedly asked the group not to protest at the Christmas windows.</p> <p>"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 spokesperson said.</p> <p>Myer was established by Russian Jewish immigrant Sidney Myer in the early 20th century and has 56 stores around Australia.</p> <p>Viewing the Bourke Street store's Christmas windows has been a tradition for many families since the display started in 1956.</p> </div> </body>