Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman of New York has described his ban from a Brooklyn coffee shop over his pro-Israel stance as "sad," a move that has triggered a civil rights investigation by the Trump administration's Justice Department.
Congressman's Reaction to the Ban
Goldman, who represents New York's 10th congressional district, made the remark to CNN after Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn posted—and later deleted—a viral social media message banning him following his visit on Sunday. The cafe subsequently refunded his coffee purchase, but the incident prompted Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to announce on X that her office was investigating the establishment.
Goldman responded that he would prefer Dhillon's office to focus its resources on antisemitism targeting individuals without his platform. "I mean, I don't ask for the antisemitism, but I'm a public figure and I can accept the criticism," Goldman said.
The Controversial Instagram Post
The controversy began when Poetica Coffee posted a since-deleted Instagram image of Goldman looking at his phone at the counter. The post read: "We see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn't taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?" It continued: "See, here at Poetica, 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. We issued you a refund – we don't need your money (it's probably coming from AIPAC anyways)." The post concluded by referencing Goldman's Democratic primary against former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander: "Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don't ever come to Poetica." Lander has criticized Israel's war in Gaza as genocide and said he would not accept AIPAC funding.
Goldman's Account of the Visit
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Goldman—a Levi Strauss heir with a reported net worth of approximately $253 million—described a positive interaction with the barista. "I had such a nice interaction with the barista in the coffee shop. She was wearing a hijab, I didn't know her, but she couldn't have been nicer and allowed my daughter to go use the bathroom, and I honestly was so grateful for her kindness that I felt like I should buy a coffee, and so I did, and I gave her a large tip," Goldman said. He contrasted this with the cafe's post: "It was diametrically opposite to that post that I came upon later … It's a reflection, I think, of a sad state of affairs that without knowing me, we could have had such a nice interaction."
Goldman's Pro-Israel Stance
Goldman attended the Israel Day parade in New York City in May, which was also attended by Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has described himself as a "proud homophobe" and called for the destruction of Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Goldman said he was "proud" to attend and "celebrate the nation and state of Israel," which he described as "distinct from its government."
Justice Department Investigation
Announcing the investigation, Dhillon stated: "Federal 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're potentially illegal." She added that the Civil Rights Division "will bring an enforcement action if warranted."
Poetica Coffee's Mission Statement
On its website, Poetica Coffee describes itself as a place "where the guest is sacred, the books are unbanned, and the door is open to everyone." It elaborates: "Mehmon, the Uzbek concept of the sacred guest, means that whoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity. Not as a customer. Not as a transaction. As someone who arrived and deserves to be welcomed." The site adds: "In practice, it looks like a café where the door doesn't close on anyone, where tea gets poured before anyone asks who you are."
