Terrified' Young Christmas Carolers 'Burst Into Tears' as Michael Brown Protesters Surround Them, Shut Down Show

Among the feats many Michael Brown protesters pulled off as they stormed Seattle's Westlake Mall on Black Friday was targeting a children's choir set to sing Christmas carols, KING-TV reported as part of a video segment.

Young carolers ushered away from protesters who reportedly surrounded them at a performance in a Seattle mall on Friday. (Image source: KING-TV)

A journalist with KING, Mark Wright, wrote this on his Facebook page:

Some of you may know that tonight's tree lighting at Westlake Center was cut short by protesters. I feel really bad for a group of children from the 5th Avenue Theater. They came tonight, excited to sing. When the protesters overtook the balcony, the children were absolutely terrified. I helped usher them to the far end of the balcony where they would be safe. They huddled with their chaperones and each other, some of them crying, until police got the protesters out of there. As a journalist, I'm absolutely in favor of the right to free speech. This was not free speech tonight. The protesters appear to simply want to disrupt, and in doing so, traumatized some beautiful young kids.

Local photojournalist Joshua Trujillo tweeted that the protesters actually surrounded the children, aged 7 to 10, who were set to sing carols:

Children here at Westlake to perform holiday music onstage absolutely terrified as protesters surround them on stage. #ferguson

— Joshua Trujillo (@joshtrujillo) November 29, 2014

Kids, 7-10, here to perform carols ended up surrounded by #ferguson protesters on stage. All in tears.

— Joshua Trujillo (@joshtrujillo) November 29, 2014

A KING reporter noted that other children in the crowd "looked confused" regarding the protesters' actions.

Image source: KING-TV

"While I understand the hurt and frustration that our city has experienced in the past days, this is a city that respects the rule of law," Seattle Mayor Ed Murray wrote in a statement. "I support the First Amendment rights of protesters, but violence against property or police officers will not be tolerated in our city."

March leader Marissa Johnson countered, telling KING that "America goes where their pocketbook goes, so today we're blocking Black Friday. We want you to be uncomfortable shopping."

The protesters, who also attempted to disrupt a tree-lighting ceremony, managed to get the mall shut down four hours early on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Once tree lighting was complete, Mayor Murray and Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole visited with the young carolers who were interrupted by protesters, KING reported, citing the mayor's office.

(H/T: The Gateway Pundit)