Photo Credit: AP Photo
Protesters shouted chants about “Genocide” at United States President, Joe Biden, as he shopped with his family and attended a Christmas tree event while vacationing in his family’s traditional spot.
After a lot of anticipation, news had broken on Tuesday night about a deal between Israel and Hamas — negotiated by international partners including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — to release 50 hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for a four-day humanitarian “pause” in the fighting and the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
On Tuesday, the president and First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, arrived in Nantucket for a few days’ vacation. The White House said “The First Family will stay at the home of their friend, David Rubenstein, as they have done previously.”
On Friday, President Biden took to the lectern at the White Elephant Nantucket in Nantucket, Massachusetts to speak about the hostage deal and his role in pushing for humanitarian pauses behind the scenes.
But protesters have followed the president all around Nantucket this week as he vacations with his family.
According to one pool report Friday, there were many cheering the president and “maybe a handful” of protesters as the president and first lady walked down the street.
As Biden and his wife walked up Broad Street, there were large groups of people gathered. Some protesters – maybe a handful – yelled “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire.”
Many other people were cheering.
Pool reports and cameras also caught the president’s traditional trip to the bookstore with his grandchildren.
The grandkids began to trickle out of the restaurant and into Nantucket Bookworks around 3:35 pm – Maisy, Naomi, Baby Beau and Little Hunt were first inside. About five minutes later Biden's wife and Ashley Biden walked in.
Asking if she was having a good time, Biden's wife said: “We’re having a great time thank you.”
At 3:48 pm, President Biden came out of the Brotherhood of Thieves and walked toward the bookstore. It is about two doors down from the restaurant.
He was heard telling some one that he and the family had a “late lunch.”
Asked if he was going to do some Christmas shopping, Biden said: “Yes. Can’t come without going to the bookstore. We’ve got a tradition."
At 4:08pm, Biden walked out of Nantucket Books, arm and arm with Finnegan. He was carrying a book: Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson. Naomi was beside him.
He walked into Craftmasters of Nantucket at 4:12 pm and out at 4:19 pm. Jill Biden has joined the posse of Bidens walking in and out of shops.
President Biden paused at various shops to wave to people standing in the windows. Crowds are all all over the sidewalks waving and shouting “Happy Birthday” and “Mr. President.” He is waving back and has shouted “Happy Thanksgiving.”
President Biden and the Bidens are now at town square for the annual tree lighting. A choir is singing traditional carols.
But C-SPAN cameras caught protesters shouting while the president shopped — and chanting about “genocide” at a Christmas tree lighting that afternoon:
At 4:35pm the town Christmas Tree was lit.
The town crier led the countdown. Everyone clapped including all the Bidens.
President Biden was behind a metal traffic barrier to the right side of the tree. Going from his left was Little Hunt, Finnegan, Maisy holding Baby Beau so he could sit on the barrier, Jill, Natalie, Naomi and Peter.
The main crowd was in front of the tree, behind metal barriers.
As the ceremony came to a close, fewer than 10 protesters at the front of that crowd unveiled “free Palestine” and “end apartheid” signs. They were directly to Biden's left and in his sight line.
They yelled repeatedly: “Biden Biden you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”
A man went up to the microphone by the tree to remind them “this is a community tree lighting” and said while he “respected their right to the first amendment,” he asked them to stop.
They did not. But the crowd was cheering and Christmas music was blasted over the loudspeakers, drowning out the protesters. Meanwhile the children’s choir rushed over to see President Biden.