PA Democrat Condemns Antisemitic Protests in Philadelphia, Calls Hamas Terrorist Group

Pennsylvania Democrat Condemns Antisemitic Rally in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA – February 3, 2026 – Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street, a Democrat, forcefully condemned an antisemitic rally held in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square over the weekend. Street, the first elected Muslim in the Pennsylvania State Senate, stated that as an American Muslim, he felt compelled to speak out against the demonstration.

The rally, organized by a group calling themselves the Philly Palestine Coalition, featured slogans such as “Abu Obeida Lives” – a reference to a deceased Hamas spokesman – and calls for “intifada,” according to reports from the Jewish News Service. A speaker at the rally also declared that “martyrdom is a commitment [and] a principle.”

“I forcefully condemn the antisemitic rally that took place today in Rittenhouse Square,” Street said in a statement. “As an American Muslim, I feel compelled to say that Hamas is a terrorist organization and should be condemned — not glorified,” he continued. “Anyone calling for violence in the streets of Philadelphia is not advancing peace. They’re setting it back.”

Street’s condemnation echoes similar sentiments expressed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who previously spoke out against antisemitic behavior at the University of Pennsylvania in 2025. Street also referenced a recent incident where Shapiro’s official residence in Harrisburg was firebombed, as well as past tragedies including mass shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue and an AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, emphasizing the need to “unequivocally condemn antisemitism, racism and hate in all its forms.”

The state senator, whose father is former Philadelphia Mayor John Street and whose uncle was also a State Senator, noted the dangers of inciting violence, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assertion that “hate cannot drive out hate — only love can do that.” He urged for a commitment to building peace where individuals of all faiths, including Jewish and Muslim communities, Israelis and Palestinians, can live safely.

Street’s stance reportedly differs from some other Muslim lawmakers, such as U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. He suggested that focusing solely on the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overlooks similar actions by other world leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Other Pennsylvania Democrats have also weighed in on the rally. State Representative Chris Rabb reportedly stated, “F— AIPAC.” Pennsylvania State Representative Martina White, along with other Republican leaders, released a statement condemning the rally as “overt hate heading toward acts of terrorism against our Jewish neighbors,” and a “clear call for terroristic attacks on people, including women and children.”

The Philly Palestine Coalition could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, ADL Philadelphia, and AJC Philadelphia/Southern NJ have also issued a joint statement unequivocally condemning the rally for its glorification of terrorism, incitement to violence, and antisemitic rhetoric. February 1, 2026, they released a statement calling the rally’s actions unacceptable.