A Brooklyn coffee shop is facing mounting backlash and potential legal scrutiny after publicly boasting that it refused service to pro-Israel Rep.
Dan Goldman (D-NY), branding him a genocide enabler and declaring that his business was not welcome.
The controversy erupted when Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn posted a photo of Goldman on Facebook alongside a receipt showing a $9.82 refund, a move that quickly drew national attention, according to Breitbart. The post taunted the congressman, stating, Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesnt taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?
The owners went further, making clear that they would have refused him outright had they recognized him at the time. See, here at Poetica, we dont serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between. Too bad we didnt recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refundwe dont need your money (its probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Dont ever come to Poetica, the post added, explicitly invoking the pro-Israel lobbying group.
That reference to AIPAC immediately raised red flags among Jewish leaders, who saw it as a dog whistle to classic antisemitic conspiracy theories. Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Advocacy Jewish Center, said Poeticas mention of AIPAC gave the game away as to the owners conspiratorial leanings, per the New York Post.
Goldfeder warned that the message extended far beyond a single member of Congress and sent a chilling signal to Jewish patrons. They put a huge amount of Jewish people on notice that they are not welcome, he said. Its not just about Dan Goldman. It puts a lot of Jews on edge.
Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, argued that the coffee shops conduct is not only offensive but unlawful under state protections. He asserted that Poeticas treatment of Goldman absolutely violates New Yorks human rights laws that bar discrimination.
Treyger stressed that targeting Jews or Israel supporters over policy disagreements crosses a bright legal and moral line. Assigning collective blame to Jews or perceived supporters of Israel over disagreements with Middle East policies is the very definition of antisemitism, Treyger said. The nature of the social media post leaves serious questions about the businesss practices that warrant a thorough review under City and State human rights law. Turning a cup of coffee into a Jewish identity litmus test is an affront to the law, our values, and every New Yorker who rejects discrimination.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, prominent Democratic officials have remained conspicuously silent. Neither State Attorney General Letitia James nor Mayor Zohran Mamdani has responded to the controversy, underscoring a broader reluctance on the left to confront antisemitism when it is cloaked in anti-Israel rhetoric.
At the federal level, however, authorities signaled they are taking the matter seriously. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice, confirmed that Poeticas actions are potentially illegal and may violate federal civil rights statutes.
Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin, Dhillon said on an X post. These actions are not only reprehensible, theyre potentially illegal. The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation, and will bring an enforcement action if warranted.
For his part, Goldman described a very different interaction inside the shop, emphasizing that he had only made a purchase to reciprocate a small act of kindness. I am sorry to see this post, he said in a statement. The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and me allowing her to use the bathroom even though we had not purchased anything. I made sure to buy a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved.
Goldman is already in a difficult reelection fight against New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive Democrat who nonetheless acknowledged that Poeticas behavior went too far. There are plenty of ways to lobby elected officials and express outrage at the votes theyve taken without turning coffee shops into places people dont feel welcome, Lander said, implicitly recognizing that ideological activism cannot override basic civil rights and equal access to public accommodations.
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