EXCLUSIVE
The protest organiser who tried to hijack the Myer Christmas window unveiling says she’s ‘not even a little bit’ sorry for her actions – as she reveals why she is keeping her true identity a secret.
Many Aussies found themselves wondering last week about the background of those behind controversial plans to disrupt Melbourne’s traditional Christmas window unveiling with a pro-Palestine protest.
The activist group responsible, Disrupt Wars, said: ‘Christmas is cancelled, and there will be no joy or frivolity while children in Gaza are massacred.’
The only organiser to public speak out about the protest was ‘Amy Settal’ – not her real name – who initially called off her protest after sparking national furore with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan describing the demonstrators as a ‘bunch of morons’.
But when a scaled-down version of the window unveiling went ahead on Sunday, Settal was still there with a handful of other protesters touting a sign which read, ‘Morons 4 Palestine’, an apparent reference to Ms Allan’s scathing commentary.
Despite the heated national conversation sparked by Settal, she has refused to reveal her real name or background, telling Daily Mail Australia: ‘I’m nobody. My identity doesn’t matter. Palestinian lives matter.’
‘Amy Settal’ (pictured) says she uses a pseudonym for her own safety after she organised a protest at the unveiling of Myer’s Christmas windows last Sunday
Settal was among the small handful of protesters who turned up outside Myer on Sunday
She also said she had been inundated with criticism in the wake of the protest.
‘I use a pseudonym for my own safety. My Instagram has been flooded with Islamophobic and violent messages,’ Settal said.
‘There are white men who have publicly tried to find out my identity and my location and made threats of violence and sexual assault.’
Settal’s social media account shows that she converted to Islam last year and has been heavily involved in the pro-Palestine movement.
Her response to the backlash has been unapologetic.
‘Am I sorry for causing public outrage and making the premier furious? Not even a little bit,’ she wrote on Monday.
‘Jacinta Allan is a Zionist puppet. Make no mistake, she couldn’t give two s***s about Myer’s ‘beautiful Christmas tradition.’
Disrupt Wars drew anger from parents and politicians alike last week, including Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nick Reece and Jewish leaders.
Settal converted to Islam last year and has been heavily involved in pro-Palestine activism
But there was also support for the group’s cause, from the likes of axed ABC journalist Antoinette Lattouf and leading pro-Palestine activist Nasser Mashni.
Lattouf mocked families that had been left outraged by the protest in a post on social media platform X.
‘I’m loving watching Boomers spiral over the Myer Christmas display,’ she wrote.
‘”Leave children alone!’ “Protestors are ruining our way of life!” We can’t even celebrate Xmas & Jesus!’ Umm… where was Jesus born? Which children’s lives are actually being ruined right now?’ she wrote.
Lattouf was fired by the ABC in December 2023 over her posts on the war in Gaza.
The 40-year-old was pulled off the air three days of a five-day stint as a fill-in host for ABC Radio after she reposted a Human Rights Watch video.
The Fair Work Commission ruled in June that Lattouf was indeed sacked by the national broadcaster – she is now pursuing an unlawful termination case in the Federal Court.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk