The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is now investigating Poetica coffee shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, after the trendy java joint served, then rejected payment from, and publicly banned U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman because he strongly supports Israel in the war against Hamas in Gaza.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump appointee, announced the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division’s investigation into the matter by posting on X (formerly Twitter) Monday night.
“Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin,” she wrote. “These actions are not only reprehensible, they’re potentially illegal. The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation and will bring an enforcement action if warranted.”
amNewYork contacted the DOJ to ask about the percolating investigation’s status. The newspaper is awaiting a response.
The feud brewed up on Sunday when Poetica posted on social media that staffers had digitally refunded Goldman $9.82 for his coffee purchase on June 21, while he was out campaigning for Tuesday’s primary with his family.
“Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away,” part of the lengthy post read. “We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica.”
Poetica Coffee/Facebook
Parviz Mukhamadkulov owns the coffee shop, which is part of a chain in NYC. Ironically, as noted on Poetica Coffee’s website, each location keeps a shelf of banned books, a move that often indicates a person or business tolerant of free speech.
amNewYork tried to reach someone at the shop for comment on the DOJ’s announcement, but has not yet received a response via social media or text message. The phone line’s mailbox was full each time the newspaper called.
Goldman, during an interview with CNN’s Laura Coates, said he had a “nice” encounter with the barista who served him, but said the experience was a reflection on a “sad state of affairs.”
“What is going on in the Middle East is horrific. The idea of accusing someone you don’t know of supporting a genocide, it’s crazy” the Congress member said. “Now, I may disagree as to whether or not there is a genocide, but come on. We are better than this. We have to stop dividing ourselves so much, and try to find a common ground and unify.”
Meanwhile, the organization and movement called #EndJewHatred has planned a rally for Wednesday outside Poetica’s Lorimer Street location in Williamsburg. Organizers said the rally is being organized to call attention to what it describes as “dangerous escalation from inflammatory political rhetoric to real-world discrimination” against Jews.
“If this kind of discrimination becomes normal, it will not stop with one customer or one coffee shop,” a spokesperson for #EndJewHatred said. “Racism is wrong. Antisemitism is wrong. Targeting Jews will not be tolerated.”
In a press release, #EndJewHatred said that “refusing service or publicly targeting Jewish customers and elected officials because of their identity or perceived views is unacceptable.”
Social media lit up overnight with comments supporting both Goldman and Poetica in response to the incident.