The US Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into Poetica Coffee, a New York-based chain, after it publicly declared it would not serve a Democratic congressman because of his support for Israel.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, the top civil rights prosecutor at the Justice Department, said Monday that she had ordered the probe after Poetica Coffee, a small Uzbekistan-inspired chain, posted on social media that Congressman Dan Goldman was unwelcome at its stores.
“These actions are not only reprehensible, but potentially illegal,” Dhillon, a Trump appointee, wrote on social media platform X. “The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation and will take enforcement action if warranted.”
Poetica Coffee, which operates seven locations in Brooklyn and East Village, made the comments on Sunday after Congressman Goldman visited one of its cafes with his daughter.
“We noticed you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,” Poetica Coffee wrote in Facebook and Instagram posts featuring an image of Goldman at its Lorimer Street location in Brooklyn. “Did you notice it didn’t taste like genocide juice? Or do you still struggle distinguishing? You see here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.”
Poetica Coffee added that it had refunded the $9.82 Goldman spent at the location and asked him never to return.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, Congressman Goldman expressed regret over the incident. “I think we’ve lost some perspective on courtesy, appropriateness, and simple decency and dialog,” Goldman said. However, the New York congressman said he did not believe the chain should be investigated. “I would love for them to take the time and resources to investigate anti-Semitism for people who don’t have a forum like I do, who aren’t elected officials,” he said.
It remains unclear on what legal basis the Justice Department could take enforcement action against Poetica Coffee. While both federal and New York state law prohibit businesses from refusing service based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, and national origin, these protections do not extend to political beliefs or ideology.
Congressman Goldman is known as a strong supporter of Israel within the Democratic Party, describing himself as a “proud Zionist and unwavering supporter” of the country. He is also facing a primary election challenge from Israel critic Brad Lander.
