3 arrested as pro-Palestinian bike ride, counterprotest draw hundreds to Philadelphia

Three people were arrested Sunday as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters gathered at a bike ride boycott that targeted several Philadelphia businesses for their alleged support of Israel. 

The bike ride organized by Philly Bike On Your Left targeted businesses that have "materially and ideologically supported the state of Israel and its ongoing genocide in Palestine."

Crowds started gathering before noon in Rittenhouse Square. Protesters carrying Palestinian flags were seen and were met by counter-protesters at some businesses targeted in the protest. Supporters of the businesses carried signs and Israeli flags, waving them as riders went by.

Police said there were roughly 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including 200 on bikes, and 200 pro-Israeli counter-protesters.

Three people were arrested during the protests. A man and a woman were arrested for disorderly conduct and a 17-year-old boy was arrested for assaulting police, according to authorities. 

Police said two officers were treated for minor injuries during an apprehension, but neither required medical treatment. A counter-protester also reported to police that they were assaulted by an unknown person, according to authorities.

All demonstrations dispersed around 1:15 p.m. and no property was damaged, police said. 

Elected officials and Jewish community organizations condemned the event, calling it antisemitic and an attempt to intimidate Jewish business owners.   

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro thanked law enforcement who responded to the protest Sunday.

"In the midst of blatant antisemitic targeting of Jewish-owned restaurants on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the City of Brotherly Love showed up to support our neighborhood businesses and prove once again that hate has no place in our Commonwealth," Shapiro wrote in part. 

In a statement on Thursday, Mayor Cherelle Parker said in part, "Everyone has the right to peacefully protest and express their political views. But singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city."

Parker said she directed the police commissioner to coordinate closely with community and partner agencies and to protect residents, houses of worship, businesses and the constitutional rights of people demonstrating peacefully. 

Rabbi Annie Lewis, of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel near the square, said it was heartbreaking to hear Jewish businesses were being targeted by the boycott. 

"We're standing right here at Rittenhouse Square, which is a place near our community where we come together in love, we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the new year here, with our neighbors. It's a place where we want to gather and promote peace and love and kindness between our neighbors," Lewis said.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday called the planned ride "deeply unsettling" and said in part, "This is not simply a protest directed at the policies of Israel, rather it singles out our fellow Pennsylvanians based on their Jewish identity."

"That is unconscionable in our Commonwealth which was founded on religious tolerance and unacceptable in a city that prides itself on brotherly love," his statement said in part.

State Rep. Amen Brown, who represents part of Philadelphia, called the event "disgraceful, hateful and completely unacceptable."

State Rep. Dan Frankel and state Sen. Judy Schwank, co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Legislative Jewish Caucus, called the event "an attack on the diversity and rich cultural landscape that makes Center City so beloved in our state" in a statement.

The Philadelphia Council of Clergy Global condemned the "antisemitic rhetoric and activity" in a statement and called on organizers to cancel the ride.

The timing of this ride is also raising concerns. It happened on Nov. 8, which is the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, or "The Night of Broken Glass," when Nazi-led violence devastated Jewish communities and businesses in Germany and Austria in 1938.

Organizers say focus is on Palestine

The ride is organized by a group called Philly Bike On Your Left, which in an Instagram post called itself "a non-violent social cycling page." Early Saturday morning, the account shared more information about the ride.

"Let us be clear: the reason we are calling for a boycott of these businesses is because of their support for Israel," the group said in a statement. The planned ride "has been grossly misrepresented" and some riders have been doxed and received death threats, according to the group.

Participants rode bikes with Palestinian flags to "show Palestinians in our community that we stand with them and their lives matter," the post says.

The statement from organizers said any "suggestions about the timing of our ride are simply false."

"All of these businesses have either fundraised in support of the Israeli military, hosted parties for Israeli soldiers who were deployed to Gaza, or expressed support for the genocide of Gaza," organizers said in a statement. "That is the reason we listed them." 

Organizers said their activism doesn't end with Sunday's event.

Philly Bike On Your Left is planning another ride next Sunday called the "Ride of Return." 

Some plan to support restaurants

Meanwhile, supporters of the targeted businesses encouraged customers to visit them over the weekend in a show of solidarity.

"They're Jewish business owners that are here in our city," Lewis, the rabbi, said. "They want to serve food, they want to build community, they want to make things better here and around the world."

Former City Council member Allan Domb, the owner of Schlesinger's deli, said he appreciates the support from the community.

"Hate has no place in Philadelphia," Domb said. "The positive news of this — and I always like to look at the positive side — is that there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for all the entrepreneurs. Not just myself but all the entrepreneurs that were targeted,  and that is really, really great to see. People from Philadelphia came together and want to help us and support us. That's pretty amazing, actually."

Domb said he believes his restaurant was listed because of a one-time fundraiser held after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. His businesses sent a portion of sales to the Jewish Federation.

Yehuda Sichel, the owner and chef at Huda, which is one of the targeted restaurants, said he was shocked to hear about the event. 

"It's pretty personal to me," he said, "Not OK."

"My grandfather witnessed [Kristallnacht] as a 10-year-old child in Germany, you know, he watched — there were 700 businesses that were completely destroyed, not to mention synagogues were burned between Germany and Austria on that night, and this is obviously just reminiscent to that, people singling out Jewish businesses, using Zionism as a euphemism to attack Jewish people is not OK," Sichel said.

Sichel said he's been in touch with local and state police and the Department of Homeland Security.

"I want everyone who's here supporting us to support us and realize that we're a business, we're here for the community, we obviously don't want to escalate, if you want to come and show support, we love that," he said.