Religious and cultural leaders have stood beside Victoria’s premier to condemn a planned pro-Palestine protest targeting Myer’s Christmas windows.
Premier Jacinta Allan labelled as “morons” a group of activists who have since walked back plans to interrupt the retailer’s famed Christmas window unveiling event in Melbourne on Sunday.
Multi-faith community leaders appeared with new Mayor Nicholas Reece and Ms Allan, who said there was is “no place” for anyone promoting division.
“That there was a group of people that chose to politicise … what is a beautiful annual tradition and event for children, we condemn it,” Ms Allan told reporters at Melbourne’s Town Hall on Friday afternoon.
“And in the face of the condemnation I have led over the course of today – we have seen those plans being cancelled.”
She said Victoria Police’s chief commissioner had assured her the force had enough resources and a “strong tactical plan” to deal with protests over the weekend, but ruled out a NSW-style permit.
“Do we really think the same sort of morons who want to disrupt a beautiful Christmas tradition for families are going to apply for a permit? They won’t,” the premier said.
She flagged proposed anti-vilification and social cohesion laws, due to be introduced to state parliament, and said they were designed to wind back division and equip police with additional powers.
However, full details of the laws are yet to be made public.
Opposition leader John Pesutto called the protest plan “disgusting” and said the threat of a protest had already driven Victorians away.
He took aim at the premier’s response, saying it was “not acceptable for Premier Jacinta Allan to be furious but unwilling to act”.
“It shouldn’t be possible for protesters, under the guise of democratic rights, to actually intimidate people out of their own city,” he said.
Viewing the Myer Christmas windows in the Bourke Street Mall has been a tradition for many families since the display started in 1956.
Activist group Disrupt Wars planned a “Crash the Christmas Windows” action for Sunday, encouraging supporters to bring banners, flags, placards, noise makers and props.
As a result, Myer cancelled the annual family event on safety grounds but the window display will still open as planned.
Demonstrators have since backed down and decided not to go ahead with their action.
The windows will still open to the public without the annual launch event, from Sunday until early January.
Protest organiser Amy Settal said the retailer’s Christmas campaign was “offensive given the absolute devastation children in Palestine are experiencing right now” and the protest was always going to be non-violent.
“The intention was to interrupt the media spectacle and economic gain sought by Myer,” she said.
“The children coming to see the Myer Christmas windows were never a target, because children are not a target.”
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said it was activists’ “right and duty to protest Israel’s genocide and its war on children”.
Earlier on Friday, Victoria Police said it had repeatedly asked the group not to protest at the Christmas windows.
“There are plenty of ways to get your message across, and perhaps what was planned for Sunday is definitely not one,” Acting Commander Tim Tully told reporters.
A separate Sunday protest, which is part of the weekly demonstrations in central Melbourne, will still go ahead.
Victoria Police said the group had altered its demonstration route away from Bourke Street and the force would still deploy officers.
