Six Jewish Restaurants Face Planned Boycott Ride in Philadelphia
Organizers mark the event for the day before Kristallnacht, prompting a police deployment and statements from the mayor and state attorney general.
By Paula Delgado ·
Philadelphia officials are preparing for a protest at Rittenhouse Square this Sunday as a planned boycott bike ride targets six local eateries.
The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on November 8, the day before the anniversary of Kristallnacht. A social media flyer lists the targeted businesses in red and crossed them out.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday called the timing "deeply unsettling" in a written statement. He noted the date aligns with the 88th anniversary of the Nazi attack on Jewish citizens in Germany and Austria.
Mayor Cherelle Parker instructed the police department to prepare for the streets to fill with protesters. She stated that business owners should not be singled out because they are Jewish, while affirming the right to peaceful protest.
Organizers from Philly Bike On Your Left said the ride shows solidarity with Palestinians. The group labeled the restaurant owners Zionists and accused them of supporting Israel. They declined an on-camera interview and provided a written statement instead.
Andrew Goretsky, Senior Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia, called the action discrimination. He said it is one thing to criticize the Israeli government but another to tell Jewish owners their businesses do not belong in Philadelphia.
Goretsky emphasized the historical weight of the date, noting that Nazis destroyed 7,000 businesses during the Holocaust. Yehuda Sichel, owner of Huda on 19th Street, said he feels empowered by the community despite the sadness of dealing with the same issues his grandparents faced.
Sichel said his restaurant will remain open Sunday. He argued that public businesses should not be harassed by people who disagree with them. Marti Lieberman, owner of Mac Mart at 18th and Arch, told supporters to "catch us this Sunday" as her two-person staff prepares for crowds.
Lieberman recalled starting the Mac Mart to bring people together regardless of background. Some owners are now asking supporters to return after the weekend to help reduce crowd sizes during the protest.
