Pro-Palestine Protesters Disrupt Christmas Caroling at NYC Tree Lighting: ‘Like a War-Themed Opera’

An annual Christmas tree lighting at New York City's Washington Square Park was disrupted by pro-Palestinian activists on Wednesday, creating a cacophony of caroling and anti-war chants that one witness described as "surreal" and like a "war-themed opera."

Some activists reportedly staged a die-in next to the park's historic landmark, the Washington Arch, while others chanted and held signs, urging for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

"These people were lying there with signs saying ‘Christmas is canceled,’ ‘No joy and genocide’ and ‘Free Palestine,’” said Nanette Burns, who lives in the neighborhood and was watching the tree lighting.

When she arrived the protestors were mid die-in on one side of the park while carolers were gathered near the tree on the other, preparing for the lighting, she said.

“And then the countdown starts. 'Five, four, three, two, one' — and [the tree] lights up,” Burns recalled to The Messenger. "And then on the other side, you’ve got this demonstration going on."

Burns said the group of demonstrators was small but noisy and disruptive.

“They don’t seem to be that numerous but they’re making enough racket that it’s hard to sing along and it’s hard not to get mad,” she said. “Especially when you’ve been living in this neighborhood as long as I have, which is more than a quarter of a century. It hurts."

At times it was almost impossible to understand what either side was saying as the carolers and protestors competed for attention, according to Burns.

“It’s almost like sort of a war-themed opera, where you’ve got this point, counterpoint going on,” she said.

“‘Fa-la-la’ versus ‘Free! Free Palestine,’” she explained. “‘Twelve days of Christmas, my true love gave to me,’ versus the counterpoint, ‘Ceasefire now!’”

“Then there's a third counterpoint of a group of carolers who are shouting back to the demonstrators, ‘Jesus was a Jew,’” Burns added. “You didn't know whether to laugh or to scream. It was really surreal."

The annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center was disrupted by protestors on Nov. 30, when several people were arrested by New York City police.

Some of the protestors on Wednesday were reportedly holding fliers which read, “Christmas is canceled in Bethlehem,” referring to reports of holiday celebrations throughout the birthplace of Christianity being put on hold while war continues in the region.

An estimated 1,000 Palestinian Christians are living in Gaza, down from 3,000 in 2007.

All Palestinian Christian Churches have reportedly canceled Christmas celebrations in response to the war.

"Bethlehem is sad and broken. We are all in pain about what is happening in Gaza, feeling helpless and overwhelmed by our inability to offer anything,” a religious leader in the Christian community there told Al Jazeera.

Though she did not feel unsafe during the demonstration at Washington Square Park, Burns said she was surprised there wasn't more of a police presence on Wednesday night and wondered if the protestors would return to the area on Dec. 24.

“We’re all going to go back on Christmas Eve," she said, referring to another holiday celebration planned in her neighborhood. "Is that what we have to look forward to on Christmas Eve?"

The New York Police Department did not immediately respond to The Messenger’s request for comment on this story.