Rep Dan Goldman responds after Brooklyn coffee shop bans him over Israel

Rep. Dan Goldman (DY) tells his side of the story after a New York City coffee shop praised him for visiting the store and banned him from returning because of his support for Israel.

It seems CNN’s “Laura Coates Live Coverage” On Monday night, Goldman expressed regret over a situation involving Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn last week, after the store shared a surveillance image of Goldman with an accompanying caption saying she was not welcome back.

“I had a very pleasant interaction with the barista at the cafe,” Goldman told CNN’s Laura Coates. “She was wearing a headscarf. I didn’t know her, but she couldn’t have been nicer and let my daughter use the restroom. Honestly, I was so grateful for her kindness that I felt like I had to get a coffee – so I did and gave her a big tip.”

Goldman said the post he saw online was a stark contrast to the actual interaction he had while visiting the store.

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“This was the exact opposite of the post I came across later, and I think it was reflective of a sad situation where we could have such a pleasant interaction without even knowing me,” Goldman said. “Two people, of course, from different backgrounds, different beliefs, but that’s what America is, that’s what New York is. That’s what I believe in.”

“And the idea of ​​accusing someone you don’t know of supporting genocide, I mean, that’s crazy. That’s crazy,” he continued. “Now, I may disagree on whether genocide happened or not. But come on, we’re better than that. And we need to be better than that.”

Goldman, who is Jewish, describes himself as a liberal Zionist and is critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He opposes the idea that Israel committed a “genocide” in Gaza, and his defense of Israel has infuriated far-left progressives and could cost him his seat in the predominantly Democratic Congress representing Southern Manhattan and Western Brooklyn.

Goldman condemned the equating of American Jews across the country with the Israeli government.

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Rep. Dan Goldman, D, NY, was criticized by Poetica, a left-leaning coffee shop in Brooklyn, which chastised him for his support for Israel. (Dan Goldman)

“I think it’s really dangerous when people start conflating the actions of the Israeli government with American Jews who have absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on in Israel, and the rise of anti-Semitism in the Middle East because of what’s going on here in the United States is really dangerous and it’s growing significantly,” Goldman said.

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Poetica Coffee said Goldman would have been turned away if staff had recognized her at the time, adding that her order was returned.

“Hello Congressman Dan Goldman, we see you stopped by our store today for coffee. Do you see that it doesn’t taste like holocaust water? Or are you still having trouble telling the difference?” The post cited Goldman’s support for Israel and previous accusations that the Jewish state is committing genocide against Palestinians during the ongoing war in Gaza.

The post continued: “Look, at Poetica we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, enablers of genocide, or anyone in between.” “Unfortunately, we didn’t recognize you right away, otherwise we would have turned you away. We refunded you your money; we don’t need your money (it’s from AIPAC anyway). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Never come to Poetica.”

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New York Rep. Dan Goldman is under fire from Brooklyn’s Poetica Coffee for his support of Israel. (Dan Goldman)

Goldman first responded to the Instagram post, commenting: “I’m sorry to see this post. The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and I; she let me use the restroom even though we hadn’t purchased anything. I made sure to get a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you’ll at least make sure she gets the tip she deserves.”

The store later responded to Goldman’s comment, adding that the barista had an idea to refund his purchase and vowing to vote against the congressman, who now faces a Democratic primary challenge from former city Treasurer Brad Lander, a harsh critic of Israel.

The coffeehouse incident underscores the fierce debate on the left over the Jewish state. There is democratic support collapsed in the name of the country In recent years.

This week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that authorities were investigating Poetica Coffee for alleged “denial of service taunts” targeting Goldman.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon added that federal law prohibits discrimination against customers based on race, religion or national origin in public accommodations, including coffeehouses, and that the alleged denial of service could violate anti-discrimination law.

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A cafe in Brooklyn, New York, Rep. Dan Goldman refunded DY’s purchase over the weekend for its support of Israel, saying the company did not serve “enabling enablers of genocide.” (Getty Images; Google Maps)

Goldman said Tuesday that he did not think the cafe’s treatment of him merited an investigation.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Goldman, the DOJ and Poetica Coffee for comment.

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One of the Poetica Coffee employees said: “No comment. We are against genocide.” New York Post.

Owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov, an Uzbek immigrant who opened the first location in 2020, previously boasted on Poetica Coffee’s website that “everyone who walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity.”

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“In practice, it resembles a cafe where the door is not closed to anyone and the tea is poured without anyone asking who it is,” the website says. “The guest is sacred because the act of welcoming is the way a community keeps itself intact.”

The website adds: “Not as a customer. Not as a transaction.” “As someone who has arrived and deserves to be welcomed.”

Fox News’ Louis Casiano and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report.