LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – “Protesting electeds outside their homes is likely to make them more pissed than afraid. They are human. Can’t think of a much worse way to bring them around to your cause.”
These are the words posted on the social media platform X by Democratic Michigan State Senator Dayna Polehanki after pro-Palestinians showed up outside of the homes of Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Peters over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
MORE NEWS: Detroit Schools Employee Health Insurance Costs: $79.1M in 2026
Polehanki said on her social media account, “Love a peaceful protest and have participated in many. They can be powerful tools for like-minded people to gather to broadcast their message and gain exposure for their cause. But when you take your protest to someone’s home, it smacks of intimidation more than anything else.”
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, both Whitmer and Peters had “visitors” at their residences. Pro-Palestinian protesters showed up at Whitmer’s residence AKA the Governor’s Mansion, on Saturday, November 25th, the day after Thanksgiving, chanting, “1,2,3,4…Whitmer come open the door…5, 6, 7, 8, America is a terrorist state.”
On Sunday, November 26th, pro-Palestinian protesters also showed up outside of U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ home in Bloomfield Hills, demanding a permanent cease fire.
In addition to state senator Polehanki, Senate Majority Whip and Democrat Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) wasn’t happy about what happened over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend either, saying that the protesters crossed a line by showing up at the homes of the politicians.
McMorrow posted on the social media platform X, “Honestly, please don’t protest at people’s homes. I don’t want to see ‘now go to Republicans’ homes.’ Just don’t do it.” She added, “This rise in acceptance of going straight to officials’ homes is very unlikely to sway the view of the official living there. But it might terrify their family, or kids, or neighbors. Let’s be honest: people do it because they know it’s taboo and violates personal space and safety. That’s the point.”
But politicians weren’t the only people who the pro-Palestinians targeted. They also took the opportunity to disrupt the plans of Michiganders who were out enjoying their holiday weekend.
MORE NEWS: Whitmer Exits National Governors Association
About 200 pro-Palestinian protesters also showed up at the Detroit Thanksgiving parade, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. Palestinian American Jenna Mahmoud told WXYZ-Detroit, “We chose the Thanksgiving parade because we are celebrating a holiday built on the genocide of the indigenous people, while we are protesting the funding of the genocide of indigenous people of Palestine right now.”
The Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC was also briefly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters with some of them gluing their hands to the street. Other protests were reported on the sidelines of the parade as well.
During the disruption to the parade, marching bands and other parade participants were seen veering around the protesters. Media outlets are reporting that about 30 people were arrested, given criminal summons for trespassing and about four people arrested for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration.
The protesters showed up again on Black Friday in front of Macy’s in NYC and yelled at the shoppers, “Why are you shopping? Bombs are dropping!”
And in Ypsilanti, Michigan, about 25 minutes south east of Ann Arbor, at a Christmas tree lighting, about a dozen protesters showed up, shouting chants to drown out a children’s choir that was trying to perform for the community members who showed up for the festivities. Instead of Christmas carols, the crowd got to listen to pro-Palestinian protesters chanting “America is a terrorist state.”
One of the protesters proudly said through his megaphone near the end of their protest, “I think we made the point. We came here, we disrupted the event, we canceled Christmas, so give it up for yourselves.”
