California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who told the nation that he stands up to bullies during last week's debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has canceled the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the state Capitol that was scheduled for Tuesday night. Pro-Hamas agitators are planning to march through the streets of Sacramento and to the Capitol during the time the ceremony was scheduled, seeking to "out Gov. Gavin Newsom for hiding from the public because he doesn't want to face their anger at his shameful stance in regard to the genocide in Gaza."

That's not quite what most people envision when they think of standing up to bullies.

KCRA's Ashley Zavala reports:

With multiple protests planned near the state Capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom has decided to not hold the annual public Christmas tree lighting ceremony there, multiple sources told KCRA 3 on Tuesday.

The ceremony was expected to be held remotely, and Newsom's office is expected to provide a recording. On Monday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol barricaded the majority of the building's west side lawn, where the tree is located. Multiple signs read, "KEEP OUT, NO TRESSPASSING" and warned the area was under 24-hour video surveillance and violators would be arrested and prosecuted. Newsom's office has not yet provided a comment.

The development marks a major shift in plans after multiple sources told KCRA 3 the governor had been planning to host the event on Tuesday featuring a night market with small businesses set up along the Capitol and several musical performances.

The Midtown Business Association issued a statement pulling out of the event on November 29:

As we continue to see protests across the country impacting the safety of events of all scales, we have decided not to continue with the holiday market as planned on Tuesday, December 5. We will provide updates on our holiday plans and family-friendly festivities at a future date.

Yassar Dahbour of Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights, the group organizing the terrorist supporters' march, basically called Newsom a coward for canceling the ceremony.

"Governor Newsom decided to cancel the tree lighting ceremony rather than face the public that is enraged by his shameful silence on the genocide in Gaza. This certainly doesn't add up with his past stance with Native Americans."

Since the ceremony is not only going virtual, but going remote, it's possible that there was a credible threat to the safety of Newsom and his family and the general public. As of the time of publication, though, no statement has been issued by Newsom's office regarding the reason for the cancellation.

Sadly, several menorah lighting ceremonies scheduled for the upcoming weekend have been canceled across the country - not because of threats to attendee safety, but because the hosting organizations are afraid of being labeled "insensitive to those who might be harmed by the Israeli-Hamas conflict" or taking Israel's side.

As our Susie Moore observed:

First off, interfering with fun family holiday activities is going to tick way more people off than it will persuade. Second, if you know an ounce of Jewish history, you know it is one of steely resolve and repeatedly overcoming the odds. If one day’s worth of oil nonetheless kept the candle burning for eight, your protest theatre antics are going nowhere. 

You can’t cancel Hanukkah.

And you can't cancel Christmas, or bow to the rage mob.