In an abrupt shift in plans, the annual lighting of the California Capitol Christmas tree was postponed for a day and moved online, a change that state officials attributed to possible protests.

The event was scheduled for Tuesday evening as a public gathering, but was moved to a pre-recorded, virtual ceremony that will be streamed Wednesday evening, according to a statement from the governor. Gavin Newsom’s office.

“As we continue to see protests across the country impacting the safety of events of all sizes and the safety and security of all participating members and guests, including children and families, this year’s ceremony will be virtual,” said one spokesperson for the governor’s office. in a statement.

It was not immediately clear which protests were of concern or whether any threats were made, but KCRA reported that the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights had planned a protest and march to the Capitol for California’s 92nd annual tree lighting. The group’s Instagram promoted a ceasefire rally in the Gaza Strip during the original in-person event, calling for “no celebrations while remaining silent on genocide.”

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About 200 people protested outside the Capitol on Tuesday evening despite the cancellation of the in-person ceremony, KCRA reported.

He chose to keep [the tree lighting] behind closed doors with only selected people and not enjoying it with the public, Makeez Sawez, member of Youth for Palestine and organizer of the Tuesday meeting, told KCRA. Our goal originally was to come talk and have the governor see us.

Newsom has largely followed President Biden’s pro-Israel stance; in October he visited Israel and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Israelis injured in October’s Hamas action. 7 attack. California sent medical aid to Israel, although Newsom said officials were also working on that for Gaza.

Earlier this week, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the tree lighting ceremony in New York, with some demonstrators clashing with police. Other ceremonies across the country, including in Boston and Seattle, also saw protests, although no problems were reported in those cities.

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Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, joined by honored guest 5-year-old Harley Goodpasture, will now light the 60-foot red pine tree in a streamed video shared Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Harley is the first Native American child to assist with the annual ceremony, the governor’s office said. Her presence will also continue the state’s tradition of the governor’s special guest being selected from one of the Department of Developmental Services’ nonprofit regional centers, which provide local services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The decorations for this year’s tree were made by people with disabilities from the state’s 21 regional centers.

Harley’s parents, Season and James Goodpasture, founded Acorns to Oak Trees, the first service provider used by a regional center on tribal lands.

Despite the new schedule and shift to a virtual event, the ceremony will otherwise remain unchanged, officials said:

present and will still be present

the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and the Wilton Rancheria.