David Baker, president of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, says the timing of the protest is extremely sensitive.
“It’s one day away from the anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, which many people may know was a late 1930s event led by the Nazis in Germany that basically targeted Jewish businesses and destroyed them,” Baker said.
On November 9 and 10, 1938, members of the Nazi movement, which espoused racist and anti-Semitic beliefs and was led by Adolf Hitler, looted 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses in Germany and destroyed Jewish cemeteries, hospitals, schools and homes. They also burned more than 1,000 synagogues.
Michael Balaban of the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia calls this discrimination, pure and simple. He says the protest should take place in an embassy and not a restaurant.
“Addressing a company that sells hamburgers, falafels or tahini shakes as if this individual is responsible for government policy is absurd. »
Balaban says it’s more than just a protest.
“The only reason these protests are happening is not hatred, you know, of a certain policy. It’s hatred of Jews simply disguised as protest of the government,” he said. “These individuals must be denounced for what they are: sectarian hatred. »
Andrew Goretsky, senior regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says there is a way for people to fight back by buying products from restaurants and not boycotting them.
“I would ask everyone to go spend money at these businesses. Go use these businesses and eat their food. Do it today. Do it tomorrow,” Goretsky said. “Do it this weekend and for the months and years to come.”
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Executive Director Lana Harshaw says she has no connection to Philly Bike On Your Left.
“We’re not affiliated with it and I just want to make sure it’s clear that the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia supports the safety and enjoyment of cycling,” she said. “We believe bikes should never be used as a way to intimidate anyone or as a tool to make anyone feel unsafe.”
The Rev. Michael Faulkner, a Baptist pastor and executive director of the Philadelphia Clergy Council, says that while the protest group is not well known, the city had to be prepared for anything and cannot stand idly by.
“To say, ‘oh, well, it could be nothing.’ It’s too big a risk to take. So my reaction was no to anti-Semitism. You know, it’s about always standing on the right side of this question and saying “no.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia hosted a solidarity luncheon with Jewish businesses at Dizengoff in Center City on Friday. City and state leaders in attendance included Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, State Senators Sharif Street and Judy Schwank, State Representatives Ben Waxman, Amen Brown and Tarik Khan, and Philadelphia City Council member Anthony Phillips.
Philly Bike On Your Left did not respond to messages from WHYY News for comment.
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