How Black Lives Matter activists interrupted a popular tree
2025-04-26 19:09:22
"No one is illegal" was the message activists had for holiday revelers at Atlanta's annual tree-lighting ceremony.
SEE ALSO: Powerful Mannequin Challenge video highlights the Black Lives Matter movementThe 56-foot tall tree atop the Macy's Men's store in Atlanta was lit with thousands of LED lights Sunday night as part of a holiday tradition. But in the middle of the lighting, activists from the Black Lives Matter movement and immigrant rights groups attempted to redirect attention away from the ceremony.
Merry Christmas..no one is illegal. LOVE- ATLANTA pic.twitter.com/dMcNlc5WUw
— jenna (@grindhousehoney) November 21, 2016
The activists literally shone a light on immigration issues. On the side of a nearby building, the activists projected, "No one is illegal."
One of the two activists who set up the projector recorded her experience on Facebook Live, including an interaction with police asking the pair to turn off the projector and banning them from the area for a year.
In the video, Annette Taylor, said "we're here in solidarity for everyone who is a human being ... We came here to make a statement."
The stunt was definitely noticed by some of the thousands of tree-lighting attendees.
Some beautiful and brave soul was projecting "no one is illegal" on the side of Macy's during the tree lighting pic.twitter.com/8epE3RV6TK
— heather (@GovRandPaul) November 21, 2016
A Macy's spokeswoman emailed Mashable Monday afternoon that there were no disruptions at the holiday event. "Last night, we had a great tree lighting event, celebrating our 69th year of the Macy’s Great Tree Lighting in Atlanta. The thousands attending the event were excited and truly in the holiday spirit of the season. There were no disruptions to the event," the statement read.
