Masked demonstrators calling for a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses clashed with furious counter protesters in Philadelphia on Sunday.
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demonstrators → call → Sunday
Hundreds of people flooded the streets to defend the targeted restaurants on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht.
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Hundreds → flood → Kristallnacht
The confrontation erupted in the city's affluent Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, where pro-Palestinian activists on bicycles were met by crowds waving Israeli flags, shouting accusations of antisemitism and lining up to spend money at the businesses they wanted boycotted.
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they → erupt → businesses
Police arrested three people and two officers suffered minor injuries as tensions boiled over, with demonstrators from opposing sides trading insults and confronting one another in the streets, reported Fox 29.
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Fox → arrest → streets
The controversial demonstration was organized by a group called Philly Bike On Your Left, which had circulated social media posts demanding that six businesses it described as 'Zionist establishments' leave the city.
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it → organize → city
One particularly inflammatory message declared: 'Show these zio business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are.'
But the campaign backfired spectacularly as supporters descended on the restaurants, forming queues that stretched around entire city blocks.
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that → declare → blocks
According to Philadelphia Police, approximately 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including 200 cyclists, gathered alongside 200 pro-Israel counter protesters from around 11am.
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demonstrators → accord → am
Hundreds of additional customers turned out to support the businesses.
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Hundreds → turn → businesses
A masked demonstrator wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh raises a clenched fist as tensions erupt over a planned boycott of Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia on Sunday
Pro-Palestinian activists, some wearing face coverings, march and cycle through Rittenhouse Square as hundreds of counter protesters gather to oppose their boycott
Customers lined up outside Jewish-owned restaurant Goldie in Philadelphia to show their support after pro-Palestinian activists called for a boycott of six businesses they labeled 'Zionist establishments'
CNN reporter Danny Freeman suggested there were 'far more counter-protestors than original protestors,' while posting pictures and video to his X account.
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Freeman → wear → account
Some of the boycotters wore masks and keffiyehs as they cycled through the neighborhood, while opponents heckled them from sidewalks and outside restaurants.
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opponents → wear → restaurants
'This is America, not Nazi, Germany, coward,' one counter protester shouted, according to the New York Post.
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protester → shout → Post
Others yelled 'Shame on you!' as masked cyclists passed the Israeli restaurant Dizengoff, where supporters waved Israeli flags.
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supporters → yell → flags
Matt Sheldon, 52, traveled from New York to support Philadelphia's Jewish community and mocked what he described as the protesters' disastrous attempt to hurt the restaurants.
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he → travel → restaurants
'It's the biggest bust of a boycott there is,' Sheldon told the New York Post.
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Sheldon → be → Post
'They made these Jewish restaurants rock stars.'
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restaurants → make → ?
At Huda, another targeted establishment, the turnout was so enormous that a restaurant partner warned there might not be enough food to serve everyone waiting.
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partner → target → everyone
He encouraged customers to return throughout the week, stressing that the businesses needed lasting support rather than a single day of packed restaurants.
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businesses → encourage → restaurants
The protest also targeted Mac Mart, K'Far Café, Goldie and Schlesinger's Deli.
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protest → target → Mart
Hundreds of counter protesters gathered in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square, waving Israeli flags and condemning the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses
Philadelphia police officers intervene to keep opposing demonstrators apart as heated confrontations break out during Sunday's controversial protest
Counterprotesters hold signs condemning hatred as masked activists face opposition on the eve of the anniversary of the Kristallnacht attacks.
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activists → gather → attacks
One sign read 'Hate is not Brotherly Love'
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Hate → read → ?
One business owner said her mac and cheese restaurant had no connection to Israel and believed she had been singled out because she wore a Star of David necklace.
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she → say → necklace
The bike protesters, meanwhile, insisted their demonstration was directed at support for Israel rather than Jewish identity.
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demonstration → insist → identity
One participant used a megaphone to accuse the targeted businesses of supporting alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
'
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participant → use → Gaza
They support 22,000 children being unalived!' the demonstrator shouted.
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demonstrator → support → ?
Despite the bitter exchanges, police maintained a heavy presence, using bicycles to create barriers and prevent the opposing crowds from coming into direct contact.
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police → maintain → contact
Organizers supporting the restaurants also urged their followers not to engage with the boycotters.
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Organizers → support → boycotters
Nevertheless, officers arrested an adult woman on suspicion of assault, an adult man for disorderly conduct and a 17-year-old boy accused of assaulting police.
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officers → arrest → police
Two officers suffered minor injuries during an apprehension, although neither required medical treatment.
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neither → suffer → treatment
Philadelphia police formed a barrier between opposing groups as tensions erupted, with one protester holding a sign reading 'END JEW HATRED'
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JEW → form → sign
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched carrying Palestinian flags and a banner calling for a boycott of CookNSolo, a restaurant group behind several of the targeted businesses
An American flag is held aloft as masked cyclists confront counter protesters during the demonstration, which resulted in three arrests and minor injuries to two police officers
Protesters face off across a police-controlled street, with Israeli flags and signs denouncing hatred visible amid the increasingly tense scenes
A female counter protester also reported being assaulted by an unidentified person.
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protester → march → person
The boycott organizers ended their demonstration early citing safety concerns, with all protesters dispersed by approximately 1:15pm.
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protesters → end → 1:15pm
No property damage was reported.
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damage → report → ?
The confrontation came just one day before the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the November 9-10, 1938, Nazi pogrom in which Jewish businesses, synagogues and homes were attacked across Germany and Austria.
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businesses → come → Germany
At least 91 Jewish people were murdered and thousands were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.
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thousands → murder → camps
The timing prompted widespread condemnation from political leaders and Jewish organizations, although the boycott organizers insisted any connection to the anniversary was coincidental.
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connection → prompt → anniversary
They claimed their demonstration had been 'grossly misrepresented' and described themselves as peaceful activists exercising their First Amendment rights.
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demonstration → claim → rights
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the planned boycott ahead of Sunday's confrontation.
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Shapiro → condemn → confrontation
Hundreds of demonstrators and counterprotesters pack the streets of central Philadelphia, with police using bicycles to separate the opposing crowds
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the planned boycott, warning that attempts to intimidate and drive Jewish-owned businesses out of communities had no place in the state
Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, made his opposition to the protests clear
A person looks at the wreckage of a Jewish shop in Berlin from November 10, 1938, the day after the 'Kristallnacht' rampage, when Nazi thugs set fire to hundreds of synagogues, looted thousands of Jewish businesses and attacked Jews in Germany and Austria
A street scene in Berlin, showing the shattered fronts of Jewish-owned stores, the result of anti-Jewish demonstrations of the November 9, 1938 the 'Night of Broken Glass'
'
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thugs → pack → Glass
My administration has been in touch with local officials in Philadelphia ahead of the planned protests on Sunday that are designed to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities,' he said.
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he → plan → communities
'Hate and antisemitism have no place in our Commonwealth.'
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Hate → have → Commonwealth
…and 6 more, not listed.