Philadelphia Mayor Condemns Planned Boycott of Jewish Businesses

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has strongly condemned a planned protest targeting Jewish-owned businesses in the city, calling the initiative "unacceptable" and stating it has "no place" in Philadelphia. The protest, scheduled for Sunday, November 8, involves pro-Palestinian activists intending to visit six Jewish businesses and call for their boycott. This event is set to occur the evening before the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the November 9, 1938 pogrom that saw thousands of Jewish businesses destroyed in Germany and Austria.

Mayor Parker emphasized that everyone deserves to feel safe regardless of their beliefs, identity, or background. "Everyone has the right to protest peacefully and express their political views. However, targeting businesses simply because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city," she stated. She asserted that "security is not negotiable" and has directed the police commissioner to coordinate closely with the community and partner agencies to ensure safety and order.

The planned protest, described as an "anti-Semitic demonstration disguised as a political boycott," is organized by a group called Philly Bike On Your Left, in conjunction with the Boycott CookNSolo campaign, which has targeted an Israeli chef's restaurants since 2023. Another involved group, Writers Against the War on Gaza, includes media, culture, and academic figures who support armed Palestinian struggle and advocate for the dismantling of the "Zionist project," even referencing Yahya Sinwar as part of the Palestinian struggle's legacy.

Sasha Roitman, CEO of the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM), warned of the event's historical parallels, drawing a direct line from the targeting of Jewish businesses in pre-Holocaust Europe to the current boycott calls. "We must understand what we are seeing here. 88 years ago in Europe, Jewish stores were marked, the public was called to boycott them, and the business owners were presented as enemies of society. Today, in 2026, we are again seeing lists of Jewish businesses and declarations that they must disappear from the city. They have replaced the word 'Jews' with 'Zionists,' but the method remains the same," Roitman stated, adding that anti-Semitism begins with words and boycotts, not just violence.