Brooklyn Cafe Denies Service to Pro-Israel Congressman Dan Goldman

Pro-Israel Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman was at Brooklyn cafe Poetica, which snubbed him later and said he was not welcome there.

A Brooklyn cafe snubbed Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) after Goldman stopped by their cafe with his 7-year-old daughter on Sunday. It was the last day for voters to cast early ballots in a Democratic primary race where he is facing a challenge from Brad Lander. Hours after his visit to the cafe, Poetica put up an Instagram post bluntly telling him that he is not welcome in the cafe. The cafe staff did not recognize him, otherwise they would have turned him away immediately. “We see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,” the caption reads under a photo of Goldman looking at his phone in front of the shop’s cash register, an image that appeared to have been taken from a surveillance camera. “Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?” “We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers or anyone in between. Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away," the now-deleted post read.

Goldman said he was at the cafe because his daughter wanted to use the washroom and he bought a cup of coffee in return for the kindness the barista showed.

Goldman, an Israel sympathizer, responded to the hate post and said he visited the cafe so that his daughter could use the restroom but purchased a coffee to thank one of its employees for allowing her to do so. "I’m sorry to see this post," he said. "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." Poetica said it issued a refund to Goldman and it was the barista's suggestion to refund him.

DOJ opens investigation against the cafe

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ has opened an investigation into the Poetica Coffee Shop in Brooklyn. Dhillon said the department was aware of the "denial of service taunts" directed at Goldman and said federal law prohibits public accommodations, including coffee shops, from discriminating against patrons based on race, religion, or national origin. Dhillon said the alleged denial of service could violate federal anti-discrimination law and says enforcement action is possible.

Turning coffee into Jewish identity litmus test...

Mark Treyger, the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said the incident warrants a review under city and state human rights laws. "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," he wrote on X. "If an identifiable Jewish customer walks into a coffee shop wearing a kippah or Magen David, are they expected to first disclose their views on Middle East policy before being served?"

Poetica cafe owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov is known for his anti-Israel social media activities.

Who is Poetica owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov?

Poetica owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov is an Uzbek immigrant who is known for his anti-Israel social media posts. “Israel is the Nazi Germany of current time,” he wrote in response to a video posted by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.