Portland’s annual tree-lighting ceremony has ignited fierce backlash after city officials and speakers deliberately avoided the words "Christmas" or "Christmas tree" throughout the entire event.
The 41st annual gathering Friday night in Pioneer Courthouse Square drew thousands to see the lighting of a 75-foot tree decorated with 10,000 bulbs.
Yet no one on stage, in the program or in promotional materials ever referred to it as a Christmas tree.
Speakers consistently called it simply "the tree" or "the tree lighting."
The ceremony opened with a representative of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs thanking the crowd for attending on Native American Heritage Day, the New York Post reported.
She introduced two younger tribal members who also described the event only as "the tree lighting."
Next, a woman draped in a Palestinian flag took the microphone and immediately shifted the program to politics.
"This is the perfect time to bring this up. There are a lot of genocides going on," she told the crowd moments after the tree lighting began. "Can I get a 'Free, free Palestine'?"
Portions of the audience joined the chant.
She then led a performance of the "Strong Woman Song" with two young children and another woman, saying it "felt appropriate since we’re representing our matriarchs up here."
Nearly an hour later, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson appeared, introduced Santa Claus and city representatives, then switched on the tree lights.
Santa later posed for photos and led a sing-along that included traditional Christmas carols such as "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Deck the Halls."
Social media reaction was swift and sharp.
The controversy comes as Portland joins a growing list of cities accused of downplaying or erasing explicit references to Christmas in public holiday events.
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