The annual Nantucket Christmas tree lighting ceremony was attended by President Biden and his family, as is their tradition. This year, however, the ceremony concluded and a small group of locals broke into a “Free Palestine” protest meant to get Biden’s attention.
Joe, Jill, their children Hunter and Ashley, and their grandchildren are spending Thanksgiving weekend on the island. The tree lighting ceremony was held Friday evening.
The president, first lady Jill Biden and their children and grandchildren were gathered alongside the tree in Nantucket’s town square as the town crier led the countdown to get the tree illuminated.
But after that went off without a hitch – after technical difficulties last year – fewer than 10 protesters at the front of the crowd unveiled ‘free Palestine’ and ‘end apartheid’ signs, directly in the president’s line of sight.
‘Biden, Biden you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide,’ they chanted.
Protestors at a Christmas tree lighting in Nantucket chant and accuse Biden of “genocide.” pic.twitter.com/qXmcoYvNgO
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) November 24, 2023
I found it interesting that the president’s attendance was confirmed in advance. The demonstrators knew he would be there. It looks like it was to let everyone know about the security restrictions.
Confirming @POTUS will once again be in attendance at Friday’s tree lighting ceremony in downtown #Nantucket, here are the security restrictions announced this morning: pic.twitter.com/YpUfpcGSyc
— Nantucket Current (@ACKCurrent) November 22, 2023
A town official went to the microphone and reminded the crowd that it was a “community tree lighting” and said he ‘respected their right to the First Amendment’, but he encouraged them to stop.
It was the second time Biden was heckled by anti-Israel protesters. He also heard from them as he walked to lunch.
As President Biden strolled down Broad Street, protesters yelled “Free Palestine!” before he entered the Brotherhood of Thieves for a late lunch.
He also spotted a “USS Nantucket” hat on the head of an onlooker and stopped to salute on his way into the restaurant. #Nantucket pic.twitter.com/AleQKu0Rg1
— Nantucket Current (@ACKCurrent) November 24, 2023
Biden was just yards away from the protesters, according to reports, but legacy media is dutifully reporting that it is unclear if Biden heard them. The protesters were soon drowned out by cheering from the crowd and loud Christmas music.
The reporting on Biden’s day Friday was a mixed bag. Some narratives were of his working much of the day as he monitored the release of Israelis and others from Hamas. Other reports were of his usual holiday routine on Nantucket. The family’s traditional lunch at a local bar and grill was delayed due to Biden’s work but he did speak to the nation before he and Jill went to lunch. Biden said he asked PM Netanyahu to “be mindful of civilian casualties.”
‘I have encouraged the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective he has. That’s a difficult task and I don’t know how long it will take,’ Biden said.
‘My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can,’ he added.
It’s frustrating to hear Biden lecture Israel on how to fight the war when we know that Israel is known for being cautious and precise in its strikes. Israel is not the blood-thirsty enemy – that is Hamas and its Palestinian supporters. When Biden says things like that, he plays into the narrative of anti-Israel protesters.
The Biden family did some Black Friday shopping after lunch and I noticed in one picture, what looks to be a member of the Secret Service detail walking next to Jill as he carried her shopping bags. Wow.
The Biden family is staying at the 13,000-square-foot waterfront compound, owned by friend David Rubenstein, a billionaire philanthropist.
Biden took some heat for the absence of any of the American hostages in the group of those released Friday. As a little damage control, the White House is reminding that Biden helped negotiate the release of two Americans in October, ahead of the larger hostage release now. Unfortunately, no Americans are expected to be released today, either. It is assumed that Americans will be held as leverage for future negotiations. Joe Biden is a weak leader and does not intimidate the enemy. Biden admitted he didn’t know any details about Americans being held hostage in Gaza. He did mention a little American citizen, Avigail, who spent her fourth birthday in captivity. She has been mentioned in many news reports, as she and all the others should. They must remain in news reports every day until they are all released.
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