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Pro-Palestine protesters interrupt Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight

25 December 2023, The Age, by Shelby Garlick

Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight event was briefly interrupted when pro-Palestine protesters stormed the stage during the live broadcast on Sunday night.

Children were rushed off the stage at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as the two protesters ran across it waving Palestine flags..

Security guards quickly removed one protester, as the other tried to grab the microphone from host David Campbell, managing to say “kids are dying in Gaza” before they were also taken away by security.

After both were removed Campbell appealed for calm and assured people the children were safe.

“They’re allowed to have their moment, they’re allowed to have their time in the sun, but we did have kids here so we wanted to make sure those kids are safe, they’re gonna be back out in a second,” Campbell said as he attempted to reassure the crowd.

“It’s a very hard time in this world, it’s a hard time for us all to come together on a night like this when there’s a lot of pain out there. We’re going to just settle things down for a moment, and we’re all going to be fine.”

The children returned to the stage shortly after the disruption.

Paul Kelly, G Flip and Casey Donovan were among the performers who lit up the stage for the annual Christmas concert.

They were joined by the cast of musicals Grease and Wicked, as well as carols regulars Denis Walter, Marina Prior and Silvie Paladino.

The annual event raises money for Vision Australia’s children’s services, with all proceeds supporting families and children who are blind or have low vision.

Carols by Candlelight, which is broadcast live by Channel Nine, the owner of this masthead, has been held on Christmas Eve in Melbourne since 1938.

with AAP

Article link: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/pro-palestine-protesters-interrupt-melbourne-s-carols-by-candlelight-20231224-p5etjp.html
Article source: The Age/Shelby Garlick 25.12.2023

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