AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 8, 2026
JewBelong Launches Billboard Campaign in Philadelphia
In response to a planned boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants, the nonprofit organization JewBelong has installed 14 billboards across Philadelphia. The campaign aims to counter the call for a boycott by urging the public to 'boycott the boycott ride' targeting Jewish-owned businesses.
Details of the Planned Boycott
The boycott was organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, a group identifying as an “anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective.” On October 31, the group circulated a flyer promoting a boycott of certain 'Zionist establishments' in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.
The targeted restaurants include Mac Mart, K’Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger’s, and Dizengoff. The boycott is scheduled for November 8, 2026, and is being held in solidarity with the Palestinian community.
Timing Coincides with Kristallnacht Anniversary
The planned boycott takes place on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht—also known as the “Night of Broken Glass” — which occurred on November 9 and 10, 1938. This event marked a violent anti-Jewish pogrom carried out by the Nazi Party across Germany, Austria, and Sudetenland, in which thousands of Jewish businesses, homes, schools, and synagogues were damaged or destroyed. Between 1,000 and 2,000 Jews were killed, and an estimated 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
Condemnation from Officials and Community Leaders
Numerous officials and leaders have publicly condemned the planned boycott. Among them are Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, both of whom took to social media to voice their opposition. Reggie Jackson, baseball Hall of Famer and Wyncote, Pennsylvania native, also denounced the boycott in a post on X, drawing parallels with racism he experienced in the 1960s.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) posted a pledge encouraging people to dine at the businesses being targeted, as well as other Jewish-owned restaurants. The ADL described the planned protest as, “an attempt to intimidate a Jewish community that has faced generations of violence, exclusion and antisemitism,” and characterized it as antisemitic.
Statements from Both Sides
JewBelong’s billboards feature messages such as “Running over Jewish businesses isn’t a peace plan,” and urge Philadelphians to support, rather than boycott, Jewish-owned businesses. The ADL stated, “We refuse to let hate win.”
In a statement published on Instagram, Philly Bike On Your Left argued that their protest has been “grossly misrepresented,” and clarified their stance against all forms of racism and oppression, including fascism, antisemitism, islamophobia, and colonialism.
Community Response Continues
The events unfold as local leaders and advocacy groups encourage solidarity with Jewish-owned businesses and call for respectful dialogue. As the scheduled day of protest approaches, efforts by JewBelong, the Anti-Defamation League, and public officials seek to promote inclusion and rebut acts of antisemitism in Philadelphia.
Source: nbcnews.com.
