A bike ride organized to promote a boycott of several Jewish-owned restaurants drew opposing demonstrators to Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square on Sunday, where people waving Palestinian and Israeli flags exchanged heated words. NBC Philadelphia witnessed several verbal confrontations between the two groups.
A line of Philadelphia police officers worked to keep the sides separated as tensions built before the ride had even begun. At least one physical altercation broke out, with officers seen pulling one protester away from another, and it was unclear whether anyone was arrested in connection with that incident. At least one person was arrested amid the crowd, though the circumstances were not immediately known.
As the demonstration unfolded, some of the restaurants named in the boycott saw long lines of customers turning out in support.
The ride was organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, a group that describes itself as an "anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective." On Oct. 31, the group announced plans to boycott what it called "Zionist establishments" in Rittenhouse Square in solidarity with the Palestinian community. The businesses named include Mac Mart, K'Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger's and Dizengoff.
Half of the targeted establishments are owned by the Philadelphia restaurant group CookNSolo, whose Israeli co-owners have publicly supported and fundraised for Israel's military efforts. The group was already the focus of a local "Boycott CookNSolo" campaign, which accuses the restaurateurs of "materially and ideologically support[ing] the ongoing occupation and genocide of Palestinians." In an Instagram post this weekend, the campaign wrote: "We stand with the organizers of the Boycott Ride, a small group of bicyclists against genocide who have been doxxed and villainized by social media Zionists and self-serving politicians."
The planned event drew widespread condemnation, including from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who denounced the boycott on social media. Governor Josh Shapiro added his own rebuke on Friday, writing on X: "Hate and antisemitism have no place in our Commonwealth." He said he was grateful to state and local law enforcement working to keep neighborhoods safe this weekend.
The Anti-Defamation League urged people to show support by dining at the targeted restaurants and other Jewish-owned businesses. "This protest is an attempt to intimidate a Jewish community that has faced generations of violence, exclusion and antisemitism," the ADL wrote, calling it the latest in a string of incidents holding Jewish businesses responsible for events in the Middle East. "That's antisemitic, plain and simple. But we refuse to let hate win."
The nonprofit JewBelong responded by installing billboards at 14 locations across Philadelphia encouraging residents to "boycott the boycott ride." The signs read, "Running over Jewish businesses isn't a peace plan."
The demonstration also fell on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the "Night of Broken Glass," when Nazi-organized antisemitic attacks targeted Jewish communities in Germany, Austria and Sudetenland on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Philly Bike On Your Left said the ride had been "grossly misrepresented," adding: "We stand firmly against racism and oppression of all forms, including fascism, antisemitism, islamophobia and colonialism." The group said the ride was planned "around people's schedules" and that implications about its timing "are simply false." It noted that some local business owners have raised funds for the Israeli military, hosted Israeli soldiers or expressed support for Israel, writing: "How we spend our money is a reflection of our values."
