Tensions flared over boycott of Jewish-owned Philadelphia restaurants

Philadelphia Tensions flared over boycott of Jewish-owned Philadelphia restaurants Tensions flared in Rittenhouse Square as police stepped in to keep demonstrators apart amid of a planned boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants. By Cherise Lynch , Andrew Rowan , Emily Rose Grassi and Siobhan McGirl • Published November 8, 2026 • Updated on November 10, 2026 at 9:17 am Tensions flared in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square on Sunday as demonstrators faced off amid a controversial bike ride organized to boycott several Jewish-owned restaurants. NBC10 was on the scene as demonstrators waving Palestinian and Israeli flags stood near one another, with several verbal confrontations breaking out between the opposing groups. Stream Philadelphia News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC10. WATCH HERE A line of Philadelphia police officers worked to keep the groups separated as tensions continued to build before the bike ride had even begun. At least one physical altercation occurred, with NBC10 witnessing police pull one protester away from another. It was unclear whether anyone was arrested in connection with that incident. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andrew Rowan (@andrewrowan128) However, at least one person was arrested amid the crowd. The circumstances surrounding that arrest were not immediately known. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department said that three people were arrested during the event: A woman for assault A man for disorderly conduct A 17-year-old man for assaulting police Two Philadelphia officers were hurt with minor injuries during the arrest of one person. Local Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. weather forecast 10 hours ago Bright and calmer wind for Wednesday North Philadelphia 4 hours ago Dozens of shell casings marked for shooting under investigation in North Philly Approximately 500 people descended upon Rittenhouse Square as pro-Palestinian protesters boycotted Jewish-owned restaurants. NBC10's Andrew Rowan reports. Meanwhile, some of the restaurants targeted by the boycott were seeing long lines of customers supporting. The Philadelphia Police Department said that approximately 500 people gathered in Rittenhouse for the protest. There were about 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including 200 on bicycles as well as 200 pro-Israeli counter-protesters. Officers stayed in the area until about 3 p.m. and no damage was reported to any of the surrounding properties. View this post on Instagram Why did the bike boycott happen? The demonstration was organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, a group that describes itself as an "anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective." On Oct. 31, the group announced plans to boycott what it called "Zionist establishments" in Rittenhouse Square in solidarity with the Palestinian community. The restaurants named in the boycott include Mac Mart, K'Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger's and Dizengoff. The planned event drew widespread criticism, including from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who condemned the boycott on social media . The Anti-Defamation League also encouraged people to show their support by dining at the targeted restaurants and other Jewish-owned businesses. “This protest is an attempt to intimidate a Jewish community that has faced generations of violence, exclusion and antisemitism. It's the latest in a string of incidents that hold Jewish businesses responsible for events in the Middle East,” the ADL wrote. “That's antisemitic, plain and simple. But we refuse to let hate win.” https://www.facebook.com/governorshapiro/posts/pfbid0yHwRXRhcgw6B4mVPrEF1XYdJWfUdQYiPAyJXgKRxwhKhJ6WYmztVaSuZ6htGk6Gkl Billboards urged Philadelphians to 'boycott the boycott' In response to the planned ride, nonprofit organization JewBelong installed billboards at 14 locations across Philadelphia urging people to support Jewish-owned businesses . The billboards read, "Running over Jewish businesses isn't a peace plan," and encouraged residents to "boycott the boycott ride." The demonstration also fell on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass," when Nazi-organized antisemitic attacks targeted Jewish communities in Germany, Austria and Sudetenland on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938. A pro-Palestinian group's planned boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants in Philadelphia sparked backlash and condemnation from city leaders as well as community support for the impacted businesses. NBC10's Kelsey Kushner has the details. In a statement posted to Instagram, Philly Bike On Your Left said the ride had been "grossly misrepresented." "We stand firmly against racism and oppression of all forms, including fascism, antisemitism, islamophobia and colonialism." In a statement shared with NBC10 on Sunday, the CEO and President of B’nai B’rith International wrote that they condemned the boycott ride: " B’nai B’rith International condemns today’s so-called “boycott ride” in Philadelphia, in which activists cycled through Center City to single out Jewish-owned restaurants and businesses. Organizers had called the owners “disgusting humans” and declared, “these Zionist establishments must go.” This was not a protest of policy. It was a public campaign to intimidate Jews and drive them from their livelihoods because of who they are. If any other community’s businesses had been singled out and paraded past by a group demanding they leave, people would be shouting from the rooftops, and rightly so. Why are Jews uniquely acceptable targets? We have seen this before. On Nov. 9, 1938, 88 years ago tomorrow, mobs smashed the windows of Jewish shops across Germany and Austria during Kristallnacht. The persecution that led there began with boycotts and the singling out of Jewish businesses. We cannot ignore the echoes. We thank Gov. Josh Shapiro, Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday for condemning this ride. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle also spoke out. But condemnation cannot fall only to a handful of officials and the Jewish community. Where are the civic leaders, cultural institutions and allies who speak out quickly when other communities are targeted? Silence sends a message, too. B’nai B’rith stands with Philadelphia’s Jewish business owners and their employees. We urge everyone who believes all people should be able to live and work without fear to support them and to say plainly: This is unacceptable. " The Israeli-American Council (IAC) also shared a statement with NBC10 after the protest saying, " When we heard about a ride taking place on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, we could not help but think about history and tell ourselves: we will not let this happen again. Today, we stand together, and we will not let anyone threaten our community. This ride does not target a government or a policy. Its stated goal is to drive businesses owned by Zionists out of the city, as if being a Zionist were criminal or illegitimate. It targets six businesses whose owners are Jewish. When people publish a list of Jewish businesses and organize to drive them out of a city, we know from history what that is ." Kirstallnacht commemoration at the Holocaust Memorial Plaza The Jewish community came together on Monday, Nov. 9 in response to Sunday's pro-Palestinian bike boycott that came on the eve of Kirstallnacht. Several Rabbis from synagogues in Center City organized Monday's event as a night to learn, pray, remember and reflect. "We are standing up against antisemitism. We are remembering hateful events of the past. Recognizing that history does repeat itself and it cannot repeat itself," Executive Director of the Congregation Rodeph Shalom Josh Laster said. Kirstallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, is when Nazis attacked Jewish businesses and synagogues in 19