Officials faced backlash after bicycle boycott targeted Jewish eateries; Philly DSA decries response

Boycott ride targets restaurants

Four groups promoted a bicycle boycott last week: Philly Bike On Your Left, Philly Writers Against the War on Gaza, Boycott CookNSolo and Philly Solidarity Calendar. Their flier named at least six restaurants in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square.

Pro-Palestinian riders attempted the boycott on Sunday, targeting businesses described as Jewish and pro-Israel. The event drew counterprotesters and condemnation from city and state leaders.

DSA criticizes elected officials

Philadelphia DSA issued its response on Sunday, denouncing what it called the backlash against the ride. The group framed the criticism as political repression directed at anti-Zionism. In its statement, Philly DSA accused politicians of conflating antisemitism with anti-Zionism and said comparisons to Kristallnacht trivialized trauma and restricted political speech. The group said the condemnations were not good-faith discussions about protest tactics.

Officials named in statement

The DSA statement referred to Senator John Fetterman, Congressman Brendan Boyle, Governor Josh Shapiro, Mayor Cherelle Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson. It said those officials had joined criticism of the boycott.

The dispute centers on how the protest and its targets were characterized, with the DSA challenging officials’ language while critics condemned the ride. The article does not provide further details about the restaurants or the officials’ individual comments.