The mayor and City Council president of Philadelphia joined a growing chorus of state leaders condemning an upcoming anti-Israel “Boycott Ride” targeting Jewish- and Israeli-owned businesses in the city, warning that the planned demonstration risked fueling antisemitism and intimidating the local Jewish community.

After calls from Jewish groups for city officials to speak out, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Mayor Cherelle Parker issued statements on Thursday against the planned Nov. 8 bicycle rally in Rittenhouse Square, which organizers are promoting with the slogan “No business for Zionists.” 

The statements follow earlier condemnations from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, state Attorney General Dave Sunday, Sens. Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) as well as state Rep. Amen Brown, all of whom denounced the planned rally and warned against targeting businesses based on their owners’ Jewish identity.

Johnson called the targeting of Jewish-owned businesses and the “growing rhetoric of hate and antisemitism” directed at Philadelphia’s Jewish community troubling, particularly given that the ride is scheduled for the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom against Jews in Germany and Austria in 1938, which included the looting and destruction of Jewish businesses. “We cannot ignore the historical significance of this moment or the dangerous consequences of allowing antisemitism and hatred to go unchecked in America,” Johnson said.

The list of targeted businesses includes Israeli restaurants Dizengoff, Goldie and K’Far Cafe, sandwich shop Huda, Schlessinger’s Deli and macaroni-and-cheese kiosk Mac Mart. The activist groups’ flyer declares that “these Zionist establishments must go,” prompting condemnation from local Jewish organizations, which have called the campaign an effort to intimidate and exclude Jews from Philadelphia’s economic and civic life.

Parker, the city’s Democratic mayor, condemned the planned demonstration, saying that “singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city.” Parker said she had directed an increased police presence in the area ahead of Sunday’s rally. 

Parker’s remarks mark her first direct condemnation of the planned rally, after she was asked about the event earlier this week but pointed reporters to a statement from the city’s Commission on Human Relations rather than issuing a response of her own. 

Brown also denounced the effort. “Let me be absolutely clear: targeting Jewish businesses because of who owns them is antisemitic,” Brown said. “It is Jew-hatred. And I will not remain silent while this kind of hatred is promoted in our city.” He added that “Jewish Philadelphians are not outsiders” and are “an essential part of Philadelphia.”

In response to the rally, the local Jewish Community Relations Council is organizing a Friday lunch at one of the targeted restaurants, bringing together local leaders to demonstrate solidarity with the businesses.