Philadelphia Boycott Ride Targeting Jewish-Owned Restaurants Draws Counterprotesters

A bicycle ride organized to boycott Jewish-owned restaurants drew crowds of counterprotesters around Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square on Sunday, November 8. Police worked to separate opposing demonstrators as people carrying Israeli and Palestinian flags confronted one another near the targeted businesses. The campaign named six restaurants: Mac Mart, K’Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger’s and Dizengoff. Some drew long customer queues, including a line outside Mac Mart. Counterprotesters waved Israeli flags and held signs condemning antisemitism, while crowds lined streets for blocks. Officers intervened during a physical altercation, pulling one demonstrator away from another. Philly Bike On Your Left, the cycling collective organizing the boycott ride, said in a statement that it had selected the businesses because of their support for Israel. The group rejected allegations of antisemitism, said its action had been misrepresented and maintained that it opposed racism and antisemitism. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker had condemned the planned targeting of Jewish-owned restaurants in a November 5 statement while affirming the right to peaceful protest. “But singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city,” Parker said. She said she had directed the police commissioner to coordinate protection for residents, businesses, houses of worship and peaceful demonstrators. Her statement also noted that the action was scheduled on the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the November 9–10, 1938 attacks on Jewish communities.