A bicycle demonstration organized to promote a boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants drew roughly 300 pro-Palestinian protesters and 200 counter-protesters to Philadelphia on Sunday, resulting in three arrests as the groups clashed verbally in Rittenhouse Square. Philadelphia police arrested a woman on an assault charge, a man on disorderly conduct, and a 17-year-old on an assault on police charge, according to a police spokesperson. Officers formed lines to keep the opposing groups separated as tensions escalated.
The event was organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, which describes itself as an anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective. The group announced plans on Oct. 31 to boycott what it called Zionist establishments in solidarity with Palestinians, naming six restaurants including Mac Mart, K'Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger's and Dizengoff. Half are owned by restaurant group CookNSolo, whose Israeli co-owners have publicly supported and fundraised for Israel. The restaurants reported long lines of customers showing support during the demonstration.
The planned boycott drew widespread criticism from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who condemned it on social media. The Anti-Defamation League called the protest an attempt to intimidate a Jewish community that has faced generations of violence and to hold Jewish businesses responsible for events in the Middle East, describing it as antisemitic. Nonprofit organization JewBelong installed billboards at 14 locations across Philadelphia urging residents to support Jewish-owned businesses.
Philly Bike On Your Left said in a statement that the ride had been grossly misrepresented and that the group stands against racism and oppression including antisemitism. The organization said the event was planned around schedules and rejected implications about its timing, which fell on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi-organized attacks on Jewish communities in Germany, Austria and Sudetenland.