Angry about the Israel-Hamas war? Fine. But don't hamper Hanukkah or cancel Christmas.

It’s been a tough year in many ways, with turmoil at home and abroad. Can’t we just enjoy holiday celebrations with our family and friends in peace?

Apparently not. At least, that’s the strategy of some pro-Palestinian protestors in the U.S.

This month, California’s annual holiday tree lighting at the Capitol was abruptly canceled and moved “online” the next day. Talk about killing the mood. Tree lightings are festive and a great way to bring people together at the start of the Christmas season.

Californians didn’t get that opportunity this year.

“As we continue to see protests across the country impacting the safety of events of all scales – and for the safety and security of all participating members and guests including children and families – the ceremony this year will be virtual,” a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement at the time.

The Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights had promoted a rally during the event, when it was going to be in-person, claiming there should be “no celebrations while silent on genocide.”

Bah humbug.

It was a huge error for Newsom to make this call. It gives these groups more power than they deserve.

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Sadly, this is far from an isolated incident. In the past two weeks, protestors have wreaked havoc at other tree lightings. They’ve targeted Hanukkah celebrations, too.

This shouldn’t be happening in America.

Christmas gets 'from the river to the sea' treatment

Several tree lighting ceremonies that have taken place have faced disruptions. Late last month, pro-Palestinian activists in Ypsilanti, Michigan (close to where I live), caused mayhem at a tree lighting, yelling antisemitic slogans like “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The children’s choir attempting to serenade the crowd was reportedly at times drowned out by hateful chants calling for the destruction of Israel.

At one of the country’s premiere tree lightings – at Rockefeller Center in New York City – a violent demonstration mired the celebration. The mood-killing protest was spearheaded by the pro-Palestine group “Within Our Lifetime,” encouraging activists to “flood the tree lighting FOR GAZA.”

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Police arrested seven of the unruly protestors, and officers were reportedly injured while trying to tame the crowd, with the scene described as “complete chaos.”

Tree-lighting disturbances have happened in Boston and Seattle as well.

Hanukkah isn't safe either

Not content with just targeting Christmas, Palestine sympathizers have sought to disrupt the eight-day Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, which ends Friday.

Last weekend, a masked pro-Palestinian protestor vandalized a menorah with a Palestinian flag near Yale University. Police are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime, and the university condemned the action as a “desecration” of the menorah and a “deeply antisemitic message to Jewish residents of New Haven.”

This is especially disturbing given the alarming spike in antisemitic incidents following Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel Oct. 7.

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While other protests have been more subtle, their message is equally loud.

For example, a community near Portland, Maine, removed a Star of David from a holiday display, following complaints from the Arab American community. The symbol is featured on the Israeli flag, and it holds special meaning for the Jewish people. (The Star of David also is the symbol the Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust).

And in Rochester, Minnesota, a choir teacher and students chose to cut a Hanukkah song from a holiday concert. They were reportedly worried it would look like they were “taking a side” in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Good grief.

With Jews across the country living in fear, communities should stand with them – not cave to the demands of those who wish to silence them.

As Alvin Rosenfeld, a Jewish studies professor at Indiana University, told USA TODAY: “It’s baffling and disappointing for me to see that, in some towns, displaying a menorah is now out of the question… Any public display of Jewishness is targeted to be canceled.

“That doesn’t represent the America I’ve known and am proud of.”

It certainly does not.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don't give Palestinian protestors power over Hanukkah or Christmas