It was a O Holy (War) Night for pro-Hamas protesters in Ypsilanti, Michigan Sunday as they disrupted a community Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Video showed dozens of pro-Hamas protesters on the edge of the ceremony, drowning out a children’s choir that was attempting to perform for attendees.
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It was a clash of cultures as families sought to continue the community tradition and the pro-Hamas malcontents chanted “America is a terrorist state” and were as loud and obnoxious as possible:
Pro-Palestinian protesters just disrupted a Christmas tree lighting celebration in Ypsilanti, Michigan, chanting as crowds gathered for the annual event in the city’s historic district pic.twitter.com/bpuCB50n89
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
As the protester banged on drums and chanted, there was a countdown to light the tree.
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“We will never vote for Genocide Joe!” they yelled.
At the conclusion, attendees were invited to stay for cookies and cider. Santa was waiting at that location.
“We’re sure glad you came to one of the more interesting tree lightings we’ve ever had,” the emcee said as people filed out of the city park.
“We’re sure glad you came to one of the more interesting tree lightings we’ve ever had” A man says as crowds moved over to the Freighthouse in Ypsilanti shortly after the Christmas tree was lit, as pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the street in front of the tree pic.twitter.com/fiCYFXBqf8
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
The agitators weren’t content just disrupting the tree lighting. They followed the crowd to the venue where there was a concert and treats and continued to bang their drums, shout in the bullhorn and drown out the children.
“Feel good about ruining Christmas for little kids?” a man asked, growing more irritated as the antics went on.
Protesters disrupted a community gathering in the Freighthouse that followed the Christmas tree lighting in Ypsilanti, entering the building as a performance was underway. One man approached the group to ask “Feel good about ruining Christmas for little kids?” pic.twitter.com/zG6YsGcW6s
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
“Why are you f***ing it up for a bunch of little kids?” a woman demanded to know. The continued disrupting.
A woman berated the pro-Palestinian protesters that disrupted the post-Christmas tree lighting gathering in the Freighthouse in Ypsilanti, asking “why are you f***ing it up for a bunch of little kids?” pic.twitter.com/qxDgncAo0l
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
Police eventually got the leftist agitators out of the building with a minor confrontation:
Police push back against pro-Palestinian protesters at an entrance to the Freighthouse in Ypsilanti, with some in the crowd attempting to prevent a door from being closed as the post-Christmas tree lighting community gathering continued inside pic.twitter.com/oJ3age4slR
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
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Their leader then crowed about their work.
“I think we made the point. We came here, we disrupted the event, we canceled Christmas, so give it up for yourselves,” he said.
“I think we made the point. We came here, we disrupted the event, we canceled Christmas, so give it up for yourselves” Remarks near the conclusion of today’s pro-Palestinian protest in Ypsilanti, Michigan pic.twitter.com/LI8xYWZcda
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 27, 2023
Watch the full livestream here.
On Saturday, pro-Palestinian protesters confronted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) at her home in a residential Lansing neighborhood Saturday night, chanting in the dark and demanding she come out.
“1, 2, 3, 4, Whitmer come open the door,” the pro-Hamas agitators chanted. “5, 6, 7, 8, America is a terrorist state.”
“1, 2, 3, 4, Whitmer come open the door”, “5, 6, 7, 8, America is a terrorist state” Chants outside the Michigan Governor’s Mansion at tonight’s pro-Palestinian protest pic.twitter.com/MaxmKs4Tq2
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 25, 2023
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It’s not clear if Whitmer was home at the time. She frequently travels the country raising campaign money and plotting for her future political aspirations. She was also talking up the Michigan-Ohio State game, which was played in Ann Arbor earlier in the day.
“Whitmer, Whitmer, we’re outside. We charge you with genocide!” they chanted.
“Whitmer, Whitmer, we’re outside. We charge you with genocide!” chants from pro-Palestinian protesters tonight outside the Michigan Governor's Mansion in Lansing pic.twitter.com/kZEoOUW0oj
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 25, 2023
“Can we sing ‘ceasefire now?'” they wondered as they attempted to reach Whitmer on the call box.
“Yeah, why not? But nicely!”
Protesters at the Michigan Governor’s Mansion unsuccessfully attempt to reach someone through a gate intercom and making a phone call pic.twitter.com/EF5IY0q3a2
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 26, 2023
When no on answered, the group chanted an encore of, “Whitmer, Whitmer, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide!”
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