Pro-Hamas Protesters Clash with Christmas Carolers in Washington Square Park

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In an unexpected turn of events, pro-Hamas protesters disrupted a beloved Christmas caroling tradition at Washington Square Park on Sunday night, as was reported by the New York Post. The clash between holiday revelers and demonstrators created a unique and tense atmosphere, but the carolers remained undeterred, singing their favorite tunes with even greater fervor, the report added.

Pro-Palestinian protesters in car caravan disrupt Christmas caroling in Washington Square Park https://t.co/h0QWZF1h4y pic.twitter.com/duVlWAJ3QW

— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) December 25, 2023

The festive atmosphere at Washington Square Park took an unexpected turn when pro-Hamas protesters strategically crashed the Christmas caroling event. According to the information provided in the Post report, some protesters circled the iconic park in their cars, blaring music and honking horns, while others gathered on the sidewalk, chanting. One defiant protester went to the extreme by standing on top of a massive SUV adorned with monster car wheels, proudly waving the Palestinian flag.

As carolers filled the park, the protesters aimed to make their presence felt on the park’s perimeter. As was noted in the Post report, this highly disruptive act was part of a larger series of pro-Hamas and pro-terror demonstrations involving car caravans across the tri-state area throughout the day.

🚨LIVE: Linda Sarsour in Washington Square Park

Linda Sarsour, a known antisemitic figure with a track record of Jew-hatred, was recently arrested at a Capitol demonstration.

Now she’s in Washington Square Park…speaking against democrats…and Jews,,,

It’s pretty confusing… pic.twitter.com/eUdC41Buza

— Shirion Collective (@ShirionOrg) December 20, 2023

An Instagram story from the pro-Palestine group “Within Our Lifetime” featured a caption that encapsulated their message: “No celebration, ’til liberation,” the report in the Post said.

Despite the disruption, the Christmas carolers, fueled by the holiday spirit, responded to the protesters with resilience. Ed Cooper, a 76-year-old participant, expressed his determination, saying, “They disrupted, we sang louder.” The information provided in the Post report said that Cooper emphasized that despite the annoyance caused by the protesters, the essence of Christmas for him was turning negatives into positives.

Palestinian American community organizer Linda Sarsour speaks (was arrested Tuesday at a ceasefire rally in the U.S. Capitol)

IN THE NAME OF OUR CHILDREN
A Vigil for Ceasefire and Remembrance
Washington Square Park, NYC
5:07pm (started 4pm), Dec 20, 2023@protest_nyc

THREAD
1/ pic.twitter.com/jLjqhv1ves

— DataInput (@datainput) December 21, 2023

“I heard that honking and that loud music and said to myself, this is God’s way of telling me I’m not caroling loudly enough. I sang myself hoarse,” explained Cooper, a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, the Post report said.

Another caroler, identified as Shannon from the West Village, voiced her frustration with the protesters, referring to them as “jerks” for interfering with a joyful holiday event. The Post also reported that Shannon expressed her support for a cease-fire but found the protesters’ tactics counterproductive and misguided.

While the clash highlighted tensions between the two groups, it also exposed generational differences in how people perceive activism. Shannon, reflecting on the situation, criticized the protesters for attempting to “annoy the everloving s–t out of people” during a festive occasion, the Post reported. She questioned the effectiveness of such tactics and doubted whether the disruption would sway public opinion in favor of the pro-Palestinian cause, as was indicated in the Post report.

“I’m fairly young, and apparently a lot of people my age think killing Christmas for a cause is badass. I find it misguided and counterproductive. I don’t think anybody who came out tonight is now more likely to come out for Palestine,” Shannon concluded, according to the Post.

The incident at Washington Square Park is part of a larger context of pro-Palestinian protests in the city, intensifying since the deadly terror attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 in which 1200 Israelis and others were brutally massacred, the Post report said. This attack prompted Israel to launch a military campaign in Gaza, leading to heightened tensions and protests within the city.