Summary: The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department has launched an investigation into a New York coffee shop chain after the business posted on social media that it would have turned away Representative Dan Goldman. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the division "has opened an investigation and will bring an enforcement action if warranted" and reiterated that "Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin."
The Justice Department confirmed on Monday that its Civil Rights Division opened a probe into the conduct of a small coffee shop chain in New York City following an online post by the business claiming it would have denied service to a sitting member of Congress if staff had recognized him during a weekend visit.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon posted on X: "The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation and will bring an enforcement action if warranted." She added, "Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin."
The incident centers on Representative Dan Goldman, a Democrat, who visited Poetica Coffee in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn on Sunday with his 7-year-old daughter. The visit was outside Goldman's congressional district. Goldman has said he entered the shop so his daughter could use the restroom and that he purchased a coffee to thank staff for permitting her to do so.
After the visit Poetica Coffee published a post on Instagram that included the line, "We see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee." The business further stated, "We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers or anyone in between," followed by, "Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. Don’t ever come to Poetica."
By Monday the Instagram post was no longer visible and the coffee shop's account appeared to have been deactivated.
Goldman is endorsed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and is contending in a June 23 primary against Brad Lander, the former New York City comptroller, who is backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Both Lander and Goldman are Jewish.
The matter comes amid intense public debate over the conflict in Gaza. The article referenced language describing Israel’s actions in Gaza and the October 2023 Hamas-led attack: "Israel’s more than two-year-long assault on Gaza - which has killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis and internally displaced Gaza’s entire population - has been called a genocide by multiple rights experts, scholars and a United Nations inquiry. Israel describes its actions as self-defense following an October 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and in which over 250 were taken hostage."
The Civil Rights Division will examine whether the coffee shop’s statements and actions violated federal protections for public accommodations. Officials indicated that if the investigation finds evidence of unlawful discrimination, the division could pursue enforcement remedies.
Context and next steps:
- The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is conducting the inquiry and has signaled possible enforcement action if warranted.
- The factual record includes the lawmaker’s account of the visit, the coffee shop’s social media statements, and the subsequent removal or deactivation of the post and account.
- No additional legal findings or enforcement actions have been announced at this time.