Philly bike boycott sparks Rittenhouse standoff
Police managed tensions as riders targeted six Jewish-owned eateries on the eve of Kristallnacht.
By Isaac Medina ·
On Sunday, demonstrators gathered near Rittenhouse Square for a bike ride aimed at pressuring specific Jewish-owned restaurants. The event coincided with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, creating a charged atmosphere for the local community.
A group called Philly Bike On Your Left organized the ride. The collective identifies as anti-fascist and anti-Zionist. On Oct. 31, it announced the plan to target what it described as Zionist establishments. The list included Mac Mart, K'Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger's, and Dizengoff.
Philadelphia police lined the area to keep opposing groups apart. Protesters waved Palestinian and Israeli flags in close proximity. Verbal confrontations broke out before the ride began. Officers pulled at least one protester away from another during a physical altercation. It was unclear if that individual was arrested. At least one other person was taken into custody amid the crowd, though the specific circumstances were not immediately known.
Customers responded to the boycott by forming long lines outside the targeted restaurants. Some of these lines stretched past the doorways. Nonprofit organization JewBelong installed billboards at 14 locations across the city. The signs urged residents to boycott the boycott ride and supported Jewish-owned businesses.
City leaders and advocacy groups reacted to the planned event. Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday condemned the boycott on social media. The Anti-Defensive League encouraged people to dine at the targeted locations. The ADL stated that the protest aimed to intimidate a Jewish community facing generations of antisemitism.
The ADL described the action as antisemitic and a refusal to let hate win. Philly Bike On Your Left posted a statement on Instagram saying the ride was grossly misrepresented. The group said it stood against racism and oppression of all forms, including fascism, antisemitism, islamophobia, and colonialism.
The demonstration took place on Nov. 8, the day before the 1938 Kristallnacht attacks in Germany, Austria, and Sudetenland. Police maintained the perimeter as the groups remained separated. No further arrests were confirmed after the initial incident.
