The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into Poetica Coffee, a Park Slope coffee shop accused of discrimination after it barred a pro-Israel politician from its premises. The inquiry comes in response to the shop’s public condemnation and refusal of service to Rep. Dan Goldman based on his political stance.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon highlighted that federal law prohibits discrimination in public accommodations—including coffee shops—on the basis of race, religion, or national origin. The Civil Rights Division warned that enforcement action might follow pending the investigation’s findings.
Poetica Coffee initially welcomed Goldman as a customer but soon posted a critical message on social media, accusing him of supporting policies they labeled as racist and genocidal. They publicly declared they would not serve "racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers," and said the congressman’s money was unwelcome, suggesting it was connected to political lobbying groups. The post ended by instructing Goldman not to return to the shop.
This public denunciation sharply contrasts with Poetica Coffee’s official mission statement, which emphasizes treating everyone who walks through the door with unconditional dignity and respect. Their website states that guests are considered sacred, and the act of welcoming is essential to community cohesion, rejecting transactional treatment in favor of genuine inclusion.
The shop’s actions spotlight tensions between political expression and anti-discrimination laws governing public businesses. The DOJ’s probe seeks to determine whether Poetica Coffee’s conduct violated these protections for patrons, particularly regarding religious and political discrimination.