Philadelphia DSA Defends Boycott After Restaurant Counterprotest
Philadelphia’s Democratic Socialists of America said criticism of its Sunday boycott was an effort to suppress support for Palestinians. The action targeted Jewish-owned businesses and took place on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi pogrom against Jews. The group argued that politicians had wrongly conflated opposition to Zionism with antisemitism and said comparisons with Kristallnacht trivialized the historical trauma.
Hundreds of counterprotesters rallied in support of the restaurants, and organizers ended the boycott early, citing safety concerns. They also said the event had been misrepresented. Mac Mart co-owner Marti Lieberman said she believed her business was targeted because she is Jewish and wears a Star of David necklace. One masked participant said he did not know why Mac Mart had been selected, despite the business having no known Israel ties.
After the event, a DSA activist posted that he had found thumbtacks on the soles of his shoes and attributed them to counterprotesters. The post included a photograph. The account did not establish who placed the tacks or how they got there.
Philadelphia DSA Says Backlash Seeks to Silence Palestine Solidarity
Philadelphia’s Democratic Socialists of America said the backlash to its Sunday boycott was being used to chill solidarity with Palestinians. The group criticized politicians for treating anti-Zionism as antisemitism and said invoking Kristallnacht trivialized Jewish trauma while suppressing political speech.
The boycott was held on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht and focused on Jewish-owned businesses. Hundreds of counterprotesters came out in support of the restaurants, and the organizers ended the action early, citing safety concerns. They said the event had been grossly misrepresented.
Mac Mart co-owner Marti Lieberman said she believed her business was selected because she is Jewish and wears a Star of David necklace. One masked participant said he did not know why the restaurant was targeted, despite its lack of known Israel ties. Afterward, a DSA activist posted that thumbtacks were stuck to his shoes and blamed counterprotesters; the post did not establish who put them there.
Philadelphia DSA Defends Boycott of Jewish-Owned Businesses
Philadelphia’s Democratic Socialists of America dismissed criticism of its Sunday boycott as an effort to silence support for Palestinians. But the action targeted Jewish-owned businesses and took place on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, making the group’s framing of the backlash as political repression central to the dispute.
Hundreds of counterprotesters gathered in support of the restaurants, and boycott organizers ended the event early, citing safety concerns. Mac Mart co-owner Marti Lieberman said she believed her business was targeted because she is Jewish and wears a Star of David necklace. A masked participant said he did not know why Mac Mart was selected, though it had no known Israel ties.
The DSA also criticized politicians for linking anti-Zionism with antisemitism and for invoking Kristallnacht. After the event, an activist said in a social media post that he found thumbtacks on his shoes and blamed counterprotesters. His post included a photograph, but did not establish who placed the tacks.
Reported by New York Post, Twitchy, Fox News.
