Pro-Palestinian boycott of Jewish Philadelphia businesses disrupted

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 9 Nov, 18:02 · Archive

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia were met by hundreds of counter-protesters on Sunday.

Masked pro-Palestinian demonstrators organised a boycott targeting Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square on Sunday, the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi night of terror in Germany and Austria. The group Philly Bike On Your Left circulated social media posts demanding that businesses it described as 'Zionist establishments' leave the city, including one message stating: 'Show these zio business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are.'

Hundreds of counter-protesters descended on the area waving Israeli flags and accusing the demonstrators of antisemitism. According to Philadelphia Police, approximately 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including about 200 cyclists, gathered alongside roughly 200 counter-protesters from around 11am. Lines at the targeted restaurants stretched around entire city blocks as supporters publicly backed the businesses.

The boycott was shut down early, with organisers citing safety concerns. Police arrested three people and two officers suffered minor injuries. The organisers said the event had been 'grossly misrepresented'. One business owner targeted in the boycott said her mac and cheese shop had no connection to Israel and believed she was targeted because she wears a Star of David. Philadelphia's Democratic Socialists of America, which appeared connected to the action, later claimed the backlash constituted 'repression' and accused politicians of 'weaponised' opposition to their protest.

How it is being reported

• Huge crowds silence controversial protest outside Philly Jewish businessesProtests of Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia by dozens of masked bikers on the eve of the Kristallnacht anniversary were drowned out by a massive crowd of heckling counter-protesters on November 8. The boycott, which targeted restaurants run by Jewish Americans in Philly’s ritzy Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, came face-to-face with a large counterprotest aimed at supporting...New York Post · 9 Nov, 17:51
• Antisemitic demonstrators calling for Jewish business boycott in Philadelphia clash with counter protesters on eve of Hitler's Kristallnacht anniversaryMasked pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia were met by hundreds of furious counter protesters.Daily Mail · 9 Nov, 01:20
• Philly DSA claims backlash to Jewish business boycott is ‘repression’The DSA group doubled-down on its poorly planned boycott, which was held on the eve of the Kristallnacht Nazi night of terror, claiming the outrage against Sunday's effort was unwarranted and belittled the boycotters' message.New York Post · 8 Nov, 22:59
• Philly ‘Kristallnacht’ protests at Jewish-owned businesses drowned out, shouted down by huge crowdsDozens of pro-Palestinian bikers boycotting Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia on the eve of the Kristallnacht anniversary were drowned out by a massive pro-Israeli crowd on Sunday.New York Post · 8 Nov, 17:46

In this story: Philadelphia · Rittenhouse Square · Philly Bike On Your Left · Democratic Socialists of America

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