Anti-Israel socialists, 0. Capitalism and warm-baked goodness, 1.
When the Southern New Hampshire chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) announced a “boycott” outside Dishon Bakery in Manchester on Saturday, organizers said their goal was to pressure owner Evan Lang and advance pro-Palestinian activism over his past service in the Israeli Defense Forces.
“We will continue this boycott campaign until the Langs publicly denounce the genocide against Palestinians or until they go out of business — whichever comes first,” the group said in a statement.
Instead, supporters of the Langs’ gluten-free baked goods outnumbered DSA protesters by roughly 10 to 1, packing the shop and emptying shelves. All pre-made baked goods were sold out within 90 minutes of opening, according to Evan Lang, and staff struggled to keep up with demand for gluten-free pizza throughout the afternoon.
Customers (and supporters) line up outside Dishon Bakery in Manchester despite call for “boycott” from Democratic Socialist of America protesters outside.
(CREDIT: Jeffrey Hastings/Frame of Mind photography)
“I am grateful for the support we received from the whole community — not just from here in Manchester, but from outside as well,” Lang told NHJournal. “From the police, the mayor’s office, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Department of Economic Development. We are so overwhelmed by the response.”
About 10 supporters of the DSA boycott showed up, several waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyehs, a symbol often associated with Palestinian political movements, including groups such as Hamas and the now-defunct Palestine Liberation Organization.
The local DSA chapter did not respond to NHJournal’s request for comment. Several supporters of the bakery who turned out Saturday, however, were willing to explain why they attended.
“I enjoyed spending my Saturday morning witnessing the continued desperate attempt at relevancy by some extremely misguided individuals,” said former state Rep. Fred Doucette of Salem, who now serves as a regional administrator for FEMA.
“Attempting to make a political statement on the backs of honest, hardworking small business owners in the city of Manchester, it’s not surprising that droves of common-sense people stood in support of this bakery,” Doucette said.
GOP congressional candidate state Rep. Brian Cole (R-Manchester) told NHJournal he attended “to support a small, local business in Manchester that was being unfairly targeted in a way that should have no place in the Granite State.”
The issue of U.S. support for Israel — particularly during Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza — is expected to play a role in the 2026 Democratic primaries.
U.S. Reps. Maggie Goodlander and Chris Pappas have already faced criticism from progressive activists for accepting campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Both have been confronted by anti-Israel protesters at public events in New Hampshire.
A DSA protester supporting the attempted “boycott” of Dishon Bakery in Manchester.
(CREDIT: Jeffrey Hastings/Frame of Mind photography)
While support for Israel remains strong among Republicans, Democratic support has declined.
A survey commissioned by the Ronald Reagan Institute and released earlier this month found that half of respondents support sending weapons to Israel, including a 68 percent majority of Republicans, but just 35 percent of Democrats. The survey also found similar partisan divisions over President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, with Republicans overwhelmingly supporting the action and 39 percent of Democrats expressing support.
The local DSA is targeting Lang over his service in the Israel Defense Forces from 2013 to 2015. According to his biography, Lang provided photography, videography, and documentary production services as a noncommissioned officer in the IDF’s New Media Branch.
Several people who showed up to support Dishon Bakery noted that the business itself is apolitical and was not being targeted for its products or practices, but rather for Lang’s personal military service.
“We must be firm: targeting neighbors based on their identity is unacceptable,” Cole said. “New Hampshire is a place of respect, and we must make it clear that antisemitism has no home here.”
Saturday’s outcome was not what DSA organizers had hoped for. Supporters of the Langs, however, said they found the result deeply satisfying.
“I truly enjoyed the warm, fuzzy feeling of seeing the expressions on the faces — the unmasked ones, at least — of the few fools who participated in this vile and empty action,” Doucette said.
