After Far-Left Demands, Gavin Newsom Cancels Christmas

It’s the hap-happiest time of the year — unless you’re the Grinchy Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. 

In the latest attack on Christmas by California politicians, Governor Newsom decided to cancel the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the California Capitol. The tree, prominently placed outside the State Capitol Building in Sacramento, symbolizes a festive tradition observed in every state capital for children and families alike. The lighting typically brings people together, transcending political divides. But the Governor’s decision halted a 92-year-old tradition. 

The reason? Far-Left pro-Palestinian protestors, from the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights, had threatened to disrupt the event — calling for “no celebrations while silent on genocide” in the Gaza Strip. Newsom responded by canceling the in-person event. His office released a statement, saying “​​for the safety and security of all participating members and guests including children and families — the ceremony this year will be virtual.”

The Governor and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, released a pre-recorded version of the tree lighting on December 6th.

Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California and a candidate for State Assembly District 75, said the decision to cancel the lighting highlights Newsom's inability to confront those who pose a threat to the safety of his constituents — especially when they are from his own Party.

“You might wonder ‘who could be against the lighting of a Christmas tree?’ — well, some of the basic elements of the California Democratic Party are against the lighting of the Christmas tree, both in these far-Left protestors and in Newsom’s response,” explained DeMaio.

“In canceling the lighting ceremony, Newsom essentially admitted that his Democrat base — the pro-hamas activists — are violent, and the question that arises is whether Governor Newsom is hesitant or apprehensive about the actions of his own supporters within the Democratic party,” continued DeMaio.

The alleged “genocide” in the Gaza Strip that the activists stated they were against refers to Israel’s actions to deter an invasion by the Hamas forces that control Gaza. Hamas, the political and military organization that governs the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian territories, launched a terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel has been fighting back to defend themselves since the attack, prompting pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas groups to demand Israel agree to a “ceasefire.” Israel and Hamas did already agree to a ceasefire on November 24th — that Hamas broke. 

Hamas has often stated that their goal is to eliminate Israel and the Jewish people, which has received international condemnation for antisemitism. In 2011, for example, the Hamas minister of culture stated that “The Jews are the most despicable and contemptible nation to crawl upon the face of the Earth …. Allah will kill the Jews in the hell of the world to come.”

And it is this movement that many on the far-Left are supporting with pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian rallies.

“The liberal media is always spouting that Republicans have a problem with racism and discriminatory extremist points of view, but in reality the Democrats are the thugs, they are the criminals, the BLM people, pro-Hamas people, the Antifa people,” said DeMaio. “They are the ones stopping a Christmas tree from being lit; they are the ones supporting Hamas even though they are torturing and slaughtering Jews; they are the problem, not us,” he continued. 

While DeMaio can’t reverse Newsom’s action to cancel the tree lighting, he is still taking proactive steps to instigate change in California by announcing his candidacy for a State Assembly seat. He aims to restore balance and sanity to California's political landscape, which is currently dominated by the Democratic party.

“​​California is in dire need of stronger leadership, and one might wonder, where are the Republicans raising their voices against these issues? Who is speaking out against the complete idiocy happening in our state’s capitol?” DeMaio asked.

“That is why I am running for the California State Assembly — I want to create change and put the citizens of California first, and I will not bend to hecklers and I will not shy away from people who are a threat to our great country,” says DeMaio.