Organizers of a Philadelphia bike ride last weekend that targeted Jewish- and Israeli-owned restaurants canceled a second event planned for Sunday, claiming that last week’s ride had been met with “extremist violence” from Israel supporters.

Last week’s ride targeted businesses including Israeli restaurants Dizengoff, Goldie and K’Far Cafe, sandwich shop Huda as well as Schlessinger’s Deli and Mac Mart. The activist groups’ flyer declared that “these Zionist establishments must go,” prompting condemnation from local Jewish organizations and elected officials, which called the campaign an effort to intimidate and exclude Jews from Philadelphia’s economic and civic life. The rally took place on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi pogrom against Jews that included the looting and destruction of Jewish businesses. 

After a show of solidarity from pro-Israel Philadelphia residents and elected officials overshadowed the bicycle protest last weekend, organizers had said they planned to rally again this Sunday. 

But in a series of Instagram posts on Thursday, the “Ride of Return” organizers said they were calling it off, attacking the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish National Fund and “pro-Israel media,” claiming without evidence that they spread AI-generated misinformation about the Nov. 8 ride. The posts offer no examples of the content. The groups also claimed that they “received death threats” and that a “right-wing Zionist pro-Israel terror group” was present, without providing evidence.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia welcomed the cancellation but warned that organizers’ boycott campaign would continue. 

In a statement to Jewish Insider, the federation said that “targeting businesses because of their owners’ identity, heritage or perceived political beliefs has no place in Philadelphia,” urging residents to continue supporting Jewish-owned businesses “not just in moments of heightened concern, but throughout the year.” The group also said that community members would still gather on Sunday for the Jewish Life “Cycle” March and Ride, encouraging peaceful expressions of “Jewish pride, unity and solidarity.”