Planned bike ride targeting Jewish-owned Philadelphia restaurants draws condemnation from state and city leaders

A bicycle protest and boycott aimed at Jewish-owned restaurants near Rittenhouse Square is scheduled for Sunday, and it has drawn opposition from advocacy groups and condemnation from Pennsylvania and Philadelphia officials, according to 6abc Action News.

CBS Philadelphia reported that the Center City ride targets several businesses owned by Jewish and Israeli people, citing a promotional flyer shared on social media. 6abc described a flyer posted online by organizers that lists six Jewish-owned restaurants, with each name circled in red and marked with an X.

According to 6abc, the ride is being organized by several groups, with Philly Bike On Your Left in the lead. The organizers wrote that the event is meant to show solidarity with Palestinians. They labeled the restaurant owners Zionists and accused them of backing Israel, the station reported.

In response, the organization JewBelong put up 14 billboards around the Philadelphia region, 6abc reported. The billboards argue that targeting Jewish businesses does not advance peace.

JewBelong co-founder Archie Gottesman told 6abc that Israel is far from Philadelphia and that the restaurants belong to local people. "Since when are Jewish restaurant owners responsible for anything that happens anywhere in the world?" she said.

Mayor Cherelle Parker said earlier in the week that the Philadelphia Police Department would be ready to keep people safe during Sunday's protest, according to 6abc. The station reported that Parker, Governor Josh Shapiro and other state and local leaders have condemned the planned ride.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday also released a statement about the event. He called its timing "deeply unsettling," 6abc reported, because the ride falls on the day before the anniversary of Kristallnacht.

Kristallnacht was a coordinated wave of attacks on Jewish people, homes and businesses carried out across Nazi Germany and Austria in November 1938. 6abc noted the anniversary this year marks 88 years since those attacks.

Neither outlet reported comments from the owners of the restaurants named on the flyer. They also did not say how many people were expected to take part in the ride or what route it would follow.

CBS Philadelphia reported that concerns about the ride have been increasing ahead of the weekend. Neither outlet reported any arrests or charges connected to the planned event.

Compiled by True News from reporting by 6abc Action News and CBS Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/868