Full Breakdown
Poetica Coffee Bans Rep. Dan Goldman Over Pro-Israel Stance
6/23/2026, 6:24:43 AM
Core Event: Social-Media Post and Refund
On June 22, 2026, Poetica Coffee posted a photo of Rep. Dan Goldman, who visited the Williamsburg shop with his 7-year-old daughter. The caption called him a “genocide enabler,” listed “racists, fascists, homophobes” among those it does not serve, and announced a $9.82 refund, saying it would have turned him away if recognized. The post was later removed.
Background & Political Context
Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat for New York’s 10th District, supports Israel in the Israel-Hamas war that began Oct 7, 2023. He faces a June 23 primary challenge from former city comptroller Brad Lander. The incident occurred on the last day of early voting.
Official Statements & Responses
Goldman replied, apologizing and noting the barista’s kindness to his daughter and that he bought a coffee in return. Lander said officials can be protested without turning coffee shops into unwelcoming places and praised Goldman’s response. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon citing federal anti-discrimination law. Mark Treyger, head of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, called the post antisemitic.
Criticism & Opposition
Jewish leaders, civil-rights groups and online commenters condemned the post as hateful and called for a boycott. Yelp temporarily halted new reviews amid a surge of one-star ratings. The shop reported death threats on Instagram, later deactivated.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on who authorized the $9.82 refund; some say a barista decided, others do not identify a decision-maker. Poetica’s statement says it would have turned Goldman away if recognized, yet its website pledges unconditional hospitality. Staff offered only “No comment. We stand against genocide.” The reason for publishing the post remains unclear. Poetica’s website claims all guests are treated with unconditional dignity, contradicting the post.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ The post continued, “We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers or anyone in between.” — Poetica Coffee
- “The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-yr-old daughter and me,” — Dan Goldman
- “MAMDANI IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER FIRST VETO DERAILS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM: 'DISAPPOINTED' "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.” — Mark Treyger, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
- “Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin,” — Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ
What’s Next
The DOJ civil-rights probe will assess whether Poetica’s conduct violates anti-discrimination statutes. The Democratic primary on June 23 will likely reference the incident. Poetica removed the post and deactivated its Instagram account pending scrutiny.
