On Sunday, December 21, 2025, members of Rally Middletown, a growing local Palestine-liberation action group, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation – Hudson Valley successfully conducted a peaceful protest action at the Galleria at Crystal Run. The demonstration decried Israel’s violation of the ceasefire in Gaza while linking commercialism at home with imperialism abroad. The protest, which lasted approximately 10 minutes, was planned and staged with the safety of activists, shoppers, and staff in mind.

The demonstration began with the activists unfurling a banner reading, “All I want for Christmas is a liberated Palestine” from the mall’s iconic center staircase. They then sang an adaptation of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” titled “We Wish for the Liberation of the Palestinian Nation,” as shoppers gathered and recorded on their phones.

“Is there still a genocide in Gaza?” one activist asked the growing crowd.

“Yes!” the other activists responded. “Will good people ever turn their back on the innocent and their suffering?” he continued, before being answered with a resounding “No!”

The group then performed a series of pro-Palestinian chants, which they continued during their procession out of the building, with some onlookers lending their voices. Shouts of “While you’re shopping, Gaza’s starving!” reverberated through one of Orange County’s largest commerce centers.

“The Gaza genocide is the worst humanitarian crisis of our time, and history is watching our society’s response,” said Rally Middletown co-founder Jason Nietzschmann. “All year, not just during the holidays, we should consider how our spending impacts the vulnerable. Support for corporate America fuels the imperialist war machine, funding the killing of families abroad while families at home struggle to survive.”

Rally Middletown has demonstrated weekly since June 2024 and organized a May 2025 march in the City of Middletown’s Business Improvement District to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Nakba. Sunday’s protest, however, marks the group’s foray into pop-up actions and speaks to its growing membership and expanding organizing capabilities.

The nonviolent protest concluded with the activists (who were already exiting the Galleria) promptly complying with Security’s request to leave. No incidents arose from the display of Palestinian solidarity.

ABOUT RALLY MIDDLETOWN

Rally Middletown, founded June 2024 in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, is a grassroots action organization run by members from across the greater Middletown, NY area. The group hosts a weekly rally for Palestinian liberation every Sunday from 12-1:30p.m. at the intersection of Rt 211 and Dunning Rd in Town of Wallkill, NY. Follow Rally Middletown on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads for more information or to get involved.

ABOUT THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION

The Party for Socialism and Liberation exists to carry out the struggle for socialism, a system where poor and working people have power and the wealth of society is used in a planned and sustainable way to meet people’s needs and the planet’s needs.