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.
\n\nNBC Philadelphia witnessed several verbal confrontations between the groups in the city’s Rittenhouse Square.
\n\nA line of Philadelphia police officers worked to keep the groups separated as tensions continued to build before the bike ride had even begun.
\n\nAt least one physical altercation occurred, with NBC10 witnessing police pull one protester away from another. It was unclear whether anyone was arrested in connection with that incident.
\n\nAt least one person was arrested amid the crowd. The circumstances surrounding that arrest were not immediately known.
\n\nMeanwhile, some of the restaurants targeted by the boycott were seeing long lines of customers supporting.
\n\nThe demonstration was organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, a group that describes itself as an “anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective.”
\n\nOn Oct. 31, the group announced plans to boycott what it called “Zionist establishments” in Rittenhouse Square in solidarity with the Palestinian community.
\n\nThe restaurants named in the boycott include Mac Mart, K’Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger’s and Dizengoff.
\n\nHalf of the establishments targeted are owned by Philadelphia restaurant…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/