Tensions rise in Philadelphia over boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants

A bike ride organized to promote a boycott of several Jewish-owned restaurants drew opposing demonstrators to Philadelphia on Sunday, with people waving Palestinian and Israeli flags exchanging heated words.

NBC Philadelphia witnessed several verbal confrontations between the groups in the city’s Rittenhouse Square.

A line of Philadelphia police officers worked to keep the groups separated as tensions continued to build before the bike ride had even begun.

Three people were arrested Sunday, according to a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department, as approximately 300 pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with roughly 200 pro-Israeli counter-protesters.

The arrests included a woman on an assault charge, a man on a disorderly conduct charge and a 17-year-old on an assault on police charge, according to the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, some of the restaurants targeted by the boycott were seeing long lines of customers supporting.

By early afternoon, all demonstrators had dispersed, police said, with no property damage reported.

The protest was organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, a group that describes itself as an “anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective.”

On Oct. 31, the group announced plans to boycott what it called “Zionist establishments” in Rittenhouse Square in solidarity with the Palestinian community.

The restaurants named in…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health