ANALYSIS – In what could have been a tremendous opportunity to defend freedom of religion, Christmas and show the world Americans won't bow to terror threats, California's Democrat governor shamefully chose to do the opposite.
After threats from Hamas terror supporters to flood the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the state capitol with angry protesters, Gavin Newsom abruptly canceled the in-person ceremony and replaced it with a “virtual” pre-recorded event released a day later.
The California tree lighting ceremony dates to the 1930s. Before the cancelation, the California Highway Patrol put up barriers around most of the capitol building's west side lawn, where the Christmas tree stands. Signs reading, “KEEP OUT, NO TRESPASSING,” were also put up, along with warnings that the area is under 24-hour surveillance.
This comes after the California Democratic convention in Sacramento was shut down early one of the days last month over fears of far-left anti-Israel protests.
The three-day-long convention ended abruptly after pro-Palestine protesters reportedly breached security while changing “cease-fire now.”
And Newsom just showed how Democrats continue to cave to pro-Hamas terrorists.
“As we continue to see protests across the country impacting the safety of events of all scales – and for the safety and security of all participating members and guests including children and families – the ceremony this year will be virtual,” the Governor's Office said in a statement.
More specifically, the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights scheduled a “tree lighting protest” for the same day. Other pro-Palestinian protests have turned violent.
The pro-Hamas Islamist group targeting Christmas festivities called for “no celebrations while silent on genocide.”
The backlash to Newsom was fierce, from both sides.
Gavin Newsom let a pro-Hamas mob cancel California's Christmas tree lighting.
Does it get more cowardly than that?
Another X user posted:
First the Jews have to hide, now it's the Christians. Menorah/Christmas Tree lightings are being cancelled because govts refuse to take control of their cities: Newsom Cancels Christmas Tree Ceremony amid Planned Pro-Palestinian Protests.
Meanwhile, the pro Hamas group making the threats to interrupt the Christmas tree ceremony, said it was their intention to “out Gov. Gavin Newsom for hiding from the public because he doesn't want to face their anger at his shameful stance in regard to the genocide in Gaza.”
About 300 pro-Hamas protesters showed up to rally in Sacramento Tuesday night, the date of the original in-person tree lighting ceremony.
Earlier last week, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted New York's tree lighting ceremony, with some demonstrators clashing with police. Other Christmas ceremonies across the country, including in Boston and Seattle, have also seen disruptive pro-Hamas protests.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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