Lawmakers from both political parties have openly denounced the antisemitic protest that occurred outside a Philadelphia restaurant serving Israeli food. This united condemnation reflects a bipartisan stance against acts of discrimination and prejudice targeting individuals or establishments based on their cultural or ethnic affiliations.
Demonstrators supporting Palestinians gathered outside of Goldie, which is part of a restaurant group co-owned by Israeli-born Michael Solomonov, calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war Sunday night, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Protesters were observed chanting “Goldie, Goldie you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” and marching through Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood, calling out Philadelphia Eagles fans watching the game in local bars. The demonstrators drew a connection between the game and ongoing conflicts by stating, “while you’re watching, bombs are dropping.” Lawmakers from both
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, condemned the incident as a blatant act of antisemitism, emphasizing that a restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. He expressed support for Michael Solomonov and his team at Goldie’s.
Senator John Fetterman, also a Democrat from Pennsylvania, criticized the protesters for not focusing on issues such as protesting Hamas or addressing broader concerns but instead targeting a Jewish restaurant. He characterized it as “pathetic and rank antisemitism.”