The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into Brooklyn's Poetica Coffee after the shop publicly banned Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., posting a surveillance image of the congressman and issuing what federal authorities characterized as "denial of service taunts" over his support for Israel. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that federal law prohibits public accommodations, including coffee shops, from discriminating against patrons based on race, religion, or national origin. Goldman, appearing on CNN's "Laura Coates Live" Monday night, said he did not believe the incident warranted a federal investigation.
The Incident at Poetica Coffee
Goldman visited Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn with his 7-year-old daughter. He said the barista, who was wearing a hijab, allowed his daughter to use the restroom before a purchase had been made; Goldman then bought a coffee and left a large tip. The shop's now-deleted Instagram post shared a surveillance image of Goldman and stated that staff would have turned him away had they recognized him at the time. Poetica issued Goldman a refund and vowed to vote against him.
Goldman's Account and Response
Goldman described the post as "diametrically opposite" to the actual exchange at the counter. Speaking to CNN anchor Laura Coates, Goldman said he objected to being labeled a genocide enabler by people who did not know him, adding that conflating American Jews with the actions of the Israeli government was "really dangerous." Goldman, who is Jewish and describes himself as a liberal Zionist, has been publicly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He objects to characterizing Israel's conduct in Gaza as genocide.
Legal Stakes and DOJ Scrutiny
Dhillon's office cited federal anti-discrimination law applying to public accommodations in announcing the probe. A Poetica staffer told the New York Post: "No comment. We stand against genocide." Owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov, an Uzbek immigrant who opened Poetica's first location in 2020, had written on the shop's website that "whoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity." Goldman said Tuesday the shop's conduct did not rise to the level meriting investigation.
Primary Challenge Backdrop
The episode surfaces as Goldman faces a Democratic primary challenge from former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a fierce critic of Israel. Goldman's heavily Democratic district spans south Manhattan and west Brooklyn. Poetica Coffee's post explicitly referenced Goldman's Tuesday primary date, writing: "Enjoy your loss on Tuesday."