Full Breakdown
Brooklyn Coffee Shop Bans Rep. Dan Goldman, Prompting DOJ Civil-Rights Probe
6/23/2026, 10:32:51 PM
Poetica Coffee Bans Rep. Dan Goldman and Triggers DOJ Probe
On June 22, 2026, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) entered Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn with his 7-year-old daughter to use the restroom and purchased a coffee. The shop posted a now-deleted Instagram message labeling Goldman a “genocide enabler,” refunding his $9.82 purchase and declaring he was not welcome. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation the following day, citing potential violations of public-accommodation law.
Political and Social Context
Goldman’s pro-Israel stance has become a focal point in the June 23 Democratic primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District, where he faces former City Comptroller Brad Lander, a self-identified “liberal Zionist” who has called Israel’s Gaza campaign a genocide. Poetica Coffee has a history of anti-Israel posts, including a January image captioned “Fuck Israel” and a “symbolic shutdown” in November 2023. The incident unfolded amid heightened national debate over the Israel-Gaza war, which has produced over 70,000 civilian deaths in Gaza according to multiple sources.
Timeline of Key Developments
- June 22 – Goldman visits Poetica Coffee; shop posts the anti-Goldman message.
- June 22-23 – Post is deleted; Instagram account deactivated.
- June 23 – DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announces a civil-rights investigation.
- June 23 – Primary election held; results pending.
Key Actors
- Dan Goldman – Congressman, heir to Levi Strauss, pro-Israel but critical of Israeli government actions.
- Poetica Coffee – Brooklyn café chain (six locations) owned by Parviz Mukhamadkulov.
- Harmeet Dhillon – Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Civil Rights Division.
- Brad Lander – Primary challenger, backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders.
- AIPAC – American Israel Public Affairs Committee; referenced in the shop’s post.
- Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and civil-rights lawyer Rory Lancman – vocal critics of the café’s message.
Numbers and Facts
- Refund issued: $9.82.
- Poetica Coffee locations in New York City: six.
- Primary election date: June 23, 2026.
Implications
The case tests the scope of federal public-accommodation statutes when political speech intersects with service denial. It also highlights the volatility of Israel-related discourse in U.S. electoral politics and raises concerns about antisemitic rhetoric in commercial settings.
Official Statements
- Harmeet Dhillon emphasized that discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin is prohibited and that the investigation will lead to enforcement action if warranted.
- Dan Goldman described the episode as “sad” and urged the DOJ to focus resources on antisemitism targeting non-public figures.
- Brad Lander condemned the café’s post, asserting that elected officials can be challenged without turning private businesses into political battlegrounds.
- Jewish Community Relations Council of New York labeled the post “the definition of antisemitism.”
Opposition and Criticism
Jewish civil-rights attorney Rory Lancman warned that the café’s use of “AIPAC” as a slur weaponizes anti-Zionist language against a Jewish public official. Critics also noted the café’s prior anti-Israel activism as evidence of a pattern rather than an isolated incident.
On-the-Ground Report
Goldman recounted a courteous exchange with a barista wearing a hijab, who allowed his daughter to use the restroom before any purchase. He tipped generously and expressed gratitude for the staff’s kindness.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- AIPAC donations: Some sources state Goldman receives individual contributions via AIPAC’s website but does not accept corporate PAC money; others claim he has returned prior AIPAC funds.
- Number of locations: Reports vary between a single shop and a six-location chain.
- Owner’s name: Spelled both “Parviz” and “Parvis” Mukhamadkulov.
- Social-media removal: It is unclear whether the Instagram account was deactivated by the owner or by the platform.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ “We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers or anyone in between.” — *Poetica Coffee* (social-media post)
- “we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways).” — *Poetica Coffee* (social-media post)
- “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 (X post)
- “ “I had such a nice interaction with the barista in the coffee shop,” he told CNN’s Laura Coates.” — *Dan Goldman* (CNN interview)
- “There are plenty of ways to lobby elected officials and express outrage at the votes they’ve taken without turning coffee shops into places people don’t feel welcome.” — *Brad Lander* (statement to NYT)
- “Assigning collective blame to Jews or perceived supporters of Israel over disagreements with Middle East policies is the very definition of antisemitism,” — *Rory Lancman*, Jewish civil-rights lawyer (JCRCNY statement)
What’s Next
The DOJ investigation remains open, and the outcome may set precedent for how political speech is treated under public-accommodation law. The primary results, expected shortly after polls close on June 23, will determine whether Goldman retains his seat amid the broader debate over U.S. policy toward the Israel-Gaza conflict.
