A coffee shop in New York City is under scrutiny after declaring a Democratic congressman unwelcome due to his pro-Israel views. Poetica Coffee, located in Brooklyn, shared a Facebook post mentioning Representative Dan Goldman’s visit and said it refunded his $9.82 purchase, rejecting business from those they label as ‘genocide enablers.’
Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,” the post began. “Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference? See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.
The post continued, noting they would have refused service had they identified him earlier, and mentioned ongoing political contests, particularly the Democratic primary in New York’s 10th District. Goldman, facing opponent Brad Lander, an Israel critic, was told not to return.
The reaction included condemnation from Jewish leaders and sparked a campaign of negative reviews online. Previously praised for its service and coffee, Poetica now faces a wave of one-star reviews. Yelp responded by pausing reviews for the café while assessing their validity, stating all reviews must reflect authentic customer experiences.
Poetica also alleged receiving death threats on its Instagram, which has since been taken down. Whether Instagram or Poetica initiated the deactivation remains unknown.
Goldman, describing himself as pro-Israel, commented on the situation, recalling a positive encounter at Poetica with his daughter. “I am sorry to see this post,” he remarked, appreciating the barista’s kindness during their visit.
Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, denounced the café’s message as antisemitic, asserting that businesses cannot discriminate based on religious or ethnic grounds.
In response, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into Poetica Coffee for potential civil rights violations, with enforcement actions considered necessary.
Efforts to contact Poetica for further comments have been met with silence from the employees, maintaining their stance against genocide.
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