The Department of Justice\u2019s Civil Rights Division is investigating a Brooklyn cafe after it banned Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) from its store, posting discriminatory messages online that accused the congressman of enabling genocide and tying him to AIPAC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFederal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin. These actions are not only reprehensible, they\u2019re potentially illegal. The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation, and will bring an enforcement action if warranted,\u201d Harmeet Dhillon, the DOJ\u2019s assistant attorney general for civil rights, said<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn\u2019t taste like genocide juice?\u201d Poetica Coffee in Williamsburg wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post with an image of Goldman standing at the register. \u201cWe don\u2019t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers. Too bad we didn\u2019t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t need your money (it\u2019s probably coming from AIPAC anyways),\u201d the post continued<\/a>. \u201cDon\u2019t ever come to Poetica.\u201d The shop said it refunded Goldman for his $9.82 purchase.<\/p>\n The coffee shop is owned by Parviz Mukhamadkulov, who has frequently used social media to share posts<\/a> condemning Israel. Poetica Coffee\u2019s website claims it serves \u201cwhoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n