Philadelphia Restaurant Boycott Ride Draws Counterprotest

Philly Bike On Your Left organized a bicycle ride in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square to boycott restaurants the group called “Zionist establishments,” drawing a counterprotest and police-reported arrests. Police estimated about 500 people took part, including roughly 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and 200 pro-Israel counterprotesters.

The group’s ride targeted six restaurants, including Mac Mart, KFar Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger’s and Dizengoff. Riders carried Palestinian flags as people opposing the boycott gathered nearby, some waving Israeli flags. Verbal confrontations broke out, and customers lined up outside targeted businesses.

Philadelphia police said three people were arrested: a 17-year-old boy accused of assaulting police, an adult man, and an adult woman. Reports differed on the charges for the adults: police accounts relayed in some reports identified the man as accused of disorderly conduct and the woman as accused of assault, while another report said both faced disorderly-conduct charges. The woman’s reported assault charge was described as an accusation, not a finding of guilt.

Police also said two officers sustained minor injuries while arresting one...