{"id":4569,"date":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/06\/23\/new-york-lawmaker-says-its-sad-that-a-cafe-banned-him-over-his-pro-israel-views\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","slug":"new-york-lawmaker-says-its-sad-that-a-cafe-banned-him-over-his-pro-israel-views","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4569","title":{"rendered":"New York lawmaker says it\u2019s \u2018sad\u2019 that a cafe banned him over his pro-Israel views"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"9bbba9de-8a0b-44bf-988f-ff42f9200903\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a man in a suit stands with his arms crossed\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/28024f3f0b7a04527bfd504bd2e58db39740d563\/0_0_4003_2669\/master\/4003.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.0387209592805\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Representative Dan Goldman stands as he monitors federal immigration officers at the US immigration court in New York City on 23 October 2025.<\/span> Photograph: David Dee Delgado\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"9bbba9de-8a0b-44bf-988f-ff42f9200903\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Representative Dan Goldman stands as he monitors federal immigration officers at the US immigration court in New York City on 23 October 2025.<\/span> Photograph: David Dee Delgado\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">New York lawmaker says it\u2019s \u2018sad\u2019 that a cafe banned him over his pro-Israel views<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn now faces DoJ investigation after sharing post criticizing Democrat Dan Goldman<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/new-york\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">New York<\/a> Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman has said it is \u201csad\u201d that a Brooklyn coffee shop banned him over his views on Israel \u2013 a move which has put the cafe under investigation by the Trump administration\u2019s justice department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Goldman represents New York\u2019s 10th congressional district and holds pro-Israel views. He made the \u201csad\u201d remark <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/06\/23\/politics\/dan-goldman-poetica-coffee-shop-israel\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">to CNN<\/a> after Brooklyn\u2019s Poetica Coffee banned him in a viral, since-deleted social media post after a visit from him on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The cafe later refunded his coffee purchase \u2013 but it did not stop assistant attorney general Harmeet Dhillon of the US justice department\u2019s civil rights division to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AAGDhillon\/status\/2069174058143420627?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">announce<\/a> on X that her office was investigating Poetica Coffee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Goldman has since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/06\/23\/politics\/dan-goldman-poetica-coffee-shop-israel\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">replied<\/a> that he would rather Dhillon\u2019s office spent its \u201ctime and resources investigating antisemitism against people who do not have a platform that I do, who are not elected officials, who do not \u2013 in some ways \u2013 ask for this\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI mean, I don\u2019t ask for the antisemitism, but I\u2019m a public figure and I can accept the criticism,\u201d Goldman said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The controversy centering on Goldman brewed after the since-deleted Instagram post from Poetica Coffee showed him looking at his phone while standing at the cashier. \u201cWe see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,\u201d Poetica Coffee<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/heatherfordham_\/status\/2069079287676666157\/photo\/1\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> wrote<\/a>. \u201cDo you see how it doesn\u2019t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cSee, here at Poetica, we don\u2019t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between. Too bad we didn\u2019t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund \u2013 we don\u2019t need your money (it\u2019s probably coming from AIPAC anyways),\u201d the post continued, referring to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/02\/aipac-aief-congress-israel-travel\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">powerful pro-Israel lobbying group.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Referring to a Democratic congressional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/brad-lander-dan-goldman-new-york-congress\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">primary<\/a> in which Goldman is running against former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, the post continued: \u201cEnjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don\u2019t ever come to Poetica.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Lander, notably, has been critical of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza, calling it genocide and saying he will not accept funding from Aipac.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">While speaking to CNN on Monday, Goldman, a Levi Strauss heir with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-07-30\/dan-goldman-levi-strauss-heir-would-join-congress-s-richest-with-nyc-win?embedded-checkout=true\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reported net worth<\/a> of approximately $253m, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/danielsgoldman\/status\/2069384404430926010?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said:<\/a> \u201cI had such a nice interaction with the barista in the coffee shop. She was wearing a hijab, I didn\u2019t know her, but she couldn\u2019t have been nicer and allowed my daughter to go use the bathroom, and I honestly was so grateful for her kindness that I felt like I should buy a coffee, and so I did, and I gave her a large tip.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIt was diametrically opposite to that post that I came upon later \u2026 It\u2019s a reflection, I think, of a sad state of affairs that without knowing me, we could have had such a nice interaction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Goldman in May attended the Israel Day parade in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/new-york\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">New York<\/a> City, which was also attended by the Israeli far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Smotrich has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/02\/new-york-israel-day-parade-democrats-smotrich\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">described <\/a>himself as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/article\/2024\/may\/08\/cant-you-kill-some-netanyahus-political-survival-in-hands-of-far-right\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">a \u201cproud homophobe\u201d<\/a>, and he has called for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/may\/06\/hamas-israel-hunger-war-in-gaza\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">destruction of Gaza<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/law\/2026\/may\/19\/far-right-israeli-minister-bezalel-smotrich-icc-seeking-arrest\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">ethnic cleansing <\/a>of Palestinian villages in the West Bank. Goldmanafter the parade <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NY1\/status\/2061592941269811634\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> he was \u201cproud\u201d to have attended and to \u201ccelebrate the nation and state of Israel\u201d, which he described as \u201cdistinct from its government\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">After announcing the investigation into Poetica Coffee, Dhillon said: \u201cFederal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin. These actions are not only reprehensible, they\u2019re potentially illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Dhillon added that the justice department\u2019s civil rights division \u201cwill bring an enforcement action if warranted\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Meanwhile, on its website, Poetica Coffee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.poeticacoffee.com\/aboutus\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">described <\/a>itself as a place \u201cwhere the guest is sacred, the books are unbanned, and the door is open to everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cMehmon, the Uzbek concept of the sacred guest, means that whoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity,\u201d the website said. \u201cNot as a customer. Not as a transaction. As someone who arrived and deserves to be welcomed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">It added: \u201cIn practice, it looks like a caf\u00e9 where the door doesn\u2019t close on anyone, where tea gets poured before anyone asks who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/new-york\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">New York<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=New%20York%20lawmaker%20says%20it%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%98sad%E2%80%99%20that%20a%20cafe%20banned%20him%20over%20his%20pro-Israel%20views&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/23\/new-york-lawmaker-cafe-banned-pro-israel-view?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjun%2F23%2Fnew-york-lawmaker-cafe-banned-pro-israel-view&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jun\/23\/new-york-lawmaker-cafe-banned-pro-israel-view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1pjhtuq\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Representative Dan Goldman stands as he monitors federal immigration officers at the US immigration court in New York<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4569\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}