Officials condemn planned Philadelphia ‘boycott’ of Jewish businesses as anti-Semitic

State and local leaders have strongly condemned a planned protest this weekend in Philadelphia that targets Jewish-owned businesses, calling it anti-Semitic and unacceptable.

Several local activist groups have promoted the protest, which is expected to take the form of a “boycott ride” by bike past Jewish-owned restaurants in the city’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The main organizer, Philly Bike On Your Left, describes itself as “anti-Zionist.”

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said the boycott on the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht was “deeply troubling.” Kristallnacht, or “Night of Broken Glass,” was a Nazi-organized riot during which synagogues were burned, Jewish-owned businesses and homes were vandalized, and Jews were assaulted, killed, and imprisoned in Nazi Germany’s concentration camps.

“The bike ride, disguised as a protest aimed at advancing the cause of justice, is nothing more than blatant anti-Semitism intended to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities,” according to a statement from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s office. “There is no place for this in our Commonwealth.”

Shapiro’s office said Pennsylvania State Police are “engaging with our local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of our Philadelphia neighbors.”

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said everyone has the right to peacefully protest: “But targeting businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city,” according to a statement posted on social media.

Bike boycott organizers named six restaurants that officials and local Jewish organizations say are run by Jewish owners.

“Ride Rittenhouse with us to show these Zionist business owners that we consider them to be the disgusting humans that they are,” read a message from Philly Bike On Your Left, the lead organizer of the protest. “We will report as many bikes as possible and show our solidarity with the Palestinian community and oppressed people around the world. »

CNN has requested comment from Philly Bike On Your Left.

On Wednesday, Philly Bike On Your Left shared a post from another activist group saying that criticism of the protest “fallaciously confuses Zionism with Judaism” and that invoking Kristallnacht is “a cynical view.”

Some companies named in the group’s flyer have already been the subject of protests.

In 2023, protesters gathered outside Goldie, a falafel shop near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. It is co-owned by Israeli-born chef Michael Solomonov, who grew up in Pittsburgh and co-owns CookNSolo Restaurants, which operates several restaurants in the area.

The rally was part of a larger protest organized by another group that said it was “demanding a complete end to the siege of Gaza and an end to US complicity with Israel.” Protesters at the time waved Palestinian flags and chanted: “We accuse you of genocide.”

The protest also drew swift condemnation from the Biden administration and state and local officials.

CookNSolo declined to comment on the protest planned for this weekend.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the planned protest “absolutely vile.”

“This is anti-Semitism disguised as activism. It is hatred of Jews, pure and simple, and it should outrage every person of conscience,” he said in a social media post.

The attorney general said Sunday that the boycott “is not simply a protest directed at Israel’s policies, but rather it targets our fellow Pennsylvanians because of their Jewish identity, targeting them for policies that they have nothing to do with and cannot influence because of their faith.”

The mayor said Philadelphia police would be on hand to “maintain safety and order” during the protest, adding: “Anyone who engages in threats, intimidation or illegal behavior will be held accountable.”