Pro-Palestine Protesters Chant Outside of Israeli-owned Falafel Restaurant in Philadelphia
Summary from the AllSides News Team
On Sunday night, hundreds of Pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Philadelphia and congregated outside Goldie, a falafel restaurant owned by American-Israeli chef Michael Solomonov.
The Details: The restaurant had at one point helped fundraise for a volunteer group of Israeli medics operating in Gaza. People also marched through the neighborhood near the University of Pennsylvania and blocked traffic in downtown Philadelphia. Some spray-painted "Free Palestine" on the map of the university campus and reportedly ignited smoke bombs in the colors of the Palestinian flag.
Key Quote: “Tonight in Philly, we saw a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) tweeted. “A restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history.”
For Context: The protest comes after a weeklong cease-fire that allowed for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. That truce ended on Friday.
How the Media Covered it: Many right-rated outlets framed the protest as antisemitic. Some highlighted how Solomonov's brother, a volunteer with the Israel Defense Forces, was killed in action in 2003. Left-rated sources focused more on protesters' reasons for demonstrating. Read more about Israel-Palestine ideological divisions.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Pro-Palestine Mob Swarms Jewish-Owned Falafel Shop in Philly: ‘You Can’t Hide, We Charge You With Genocide!’
Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor is calling a Sunday evening pro-Palestinian protest outside a Philadelphia restaurant a “blatant act of antisemitism.”
Hundreds of protesters had been marching through Center City when the crowd stopped in front of Goldie, an Israeli-style falafel shop owned by a Jewish restauranteur.
Video footage circulating online shows the crowd chanting: “Goldie, Goldie you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!”
The crowd also stuck “Free Palestine” and “This is Genocide” stickers on the front of the business, according to one witness.
Goldie is part of the CookNSolo group,...
From the Left
Hundreds rally for Gaza in Philly, stop to protest outside Goldie falafel shop
Hundreds of protesters marched through Center City and University City to show their support for Gaza and demand a permanent cease-fire. It’s the latest in sustained local efforts aiming to call attention to the war and its fallout.
Protesters were critical of some local businesses, including Goldie in Center City, an Israeli-style falafel shop. Goldie is part of the CookNSolo group, which is co-owned by Israeli-born Michael Solomonov. Last month, a small group protested outside CookNSolo’s Laser Wolf in Fishtown, and in October, an Instagram post by the Philly Palestine...
From the Right
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Mob Jewish-Owned Philadelphia Falafel Restaurant: ‘We Charge You With Genocide’
Pro-Palestinian protesters marching through Philadelphia Sunday congregated outside Goldie, a falafel restaurant owned by American–Israeli chef Michael Solomonov, vandalizing its front door and windows and chanting “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”
Solomonov, born in Israel and raised in Pittsburgh, focused on Italian cuisine at the start of his career. That changed in 2003, when his brother, David, who had volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces, was killed by snipers on the Lebanese border. Solomonov now owns a variety of Israeli- and Jewish-style restaurants, mainly in...
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