The US Justice Department has launched an investigation after a cafe in Brooklyn, New York, called Poetica Coffee, targeted Democratic Representative Dan Goldman on social media for his support of Israel.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that federal law prohibits public accommodations, including cafes, from discriminating against customers based on race, religion, or national origin, and noted that the allegation could violate federal anti-discrimination law and be subject to enforcement.
The cafe's controversial post
In a now-deleted Facebook post, the cafe said they did not recognize Representative Goldman when he stopped by with his young daughter, but would have turned him away if they had. The post stated, "Here at Poetica we do not serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide supporters, or anyone in between."
The post also said that Goldman's purchase was refunded and that he was asked not to return to the cafe.
Goldman's reaction
In a social media statement on the matter, Representative Dan Goldman said he was disappointed by the cafe's words. Goldman said, "It's sad to see that the barista couldn't be kinder to my 7-year-old daughter and me. Although we hadn't bought anything yet, she let my daughter use the restroom. I bought a coffee in return for that kindness."
The cafe responded, claiming the idea of a refund came from the barista.
Call for legal review
The incident caught the attention of Mark Treyger, CEO of the New York Jewish Community Relations Council. In a post on social media platform X, Treyger said, "Turning a cup of coffee into a Jewish identity test is an insult to the law, our values, and every New Yorker who rejects discrimination," and argued that the incident should be reviewed under state and city human rights laws.
Poetica Coffee owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov's statements on the business's website, such as "The door is not closed to anyone" and "The guest is sacred," stand in contrast to this incident.
