Brooklyn coffee shop bans congressman over Israel support
Democratic primary candidate Dan Goldman was refunded for a coffee he bought at a Brooklyn café and told not to return after the café said it does not serve “genocide enablers.” Goldman responded: “I bought the coffee to thank the barista. Hope she got the tip.”
By Hagar Amgar
A coffee shop in Brooklyn, New York, has found itself at the center of a controversy after
announcing that it had refunded Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman, a supporter of Israel, and informed him that he would no longer be served there.
The incident took place at Poetica Coffee in Park Slope and sparked widespread reactions, including from Goldman himself. Responding to the café’s post, he wrote: “The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and me – allowing her to use the bathroom even though we had not purchased anything. I made sure to buy a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved.”
In the post, which was later deleted following significant criticism, the café stated: “We do not serve fascists or genocide enablers here. Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away.” The café added that Goldman’s $9.82 coffee purchase had been refunded and that he was not welcome to return. “That money probably coming from AIPAC anyways,” the post said.
Goldman is running in New York’s 10th Congressional District Democratic primary against former city comptroller Brad Lander. Lander has accused Israel of committing “genocide” and is supported by mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Goldman describes himself as a “pro-Israeli and supportive of peace.”