US DoJ opens civil rights probe into café owned by Uzbek entrepreneur over ban on pro-Israel lawmaker

According to Al Jazeera, the investigation centers on Poetica Coffee, a boutique chain with several branches across New York founded by Uzbek businessman Parviz Mukhamadkulov. The controversy began following a June 22 visit by US Representative Dan Goldman and his young daughter to one of the chain’s Brooklyn locations.

Following the visit, Poetica Coffee posted a photograph of the congressman on its official Instagram and Facebook pages, accompanied by a public reprimand over his legislative stance on Israel.

“Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,” Poetica Coffee said in Facebook and Instagram posts that were accompanied by a picture of Goldman at its Lorimer Street, Brooklyn branch. “Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference? See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between. Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away.”

Poetica Coffee added that it had refunded Goldman $9.82 he spent at the branch and that he should never return.

The social media post prompted immediate federal scrutiny. Harmeet K. Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the US Department of Justice, announced that her office had formally initiated a probe into whether the business violated federal laws governing public accommodations. Dhillon emphasized that while the actions of the establishment are reprehensible, they may also cross legal boundaries, adding that the department will pursue enforcement action if legal grounds are verified.

As cited by The New York Times, Goldman expressed regret over the online hostility but suggested that the situation might not warrant a full federal civil rights investigation. He noted that his in-person interaction with the barista had been perfectly pleasant, explaining that he bought the coffee as a gesture of appreciation after the employee kindly allowed his daughter to use the restroom.

Goldman is a prominent centrist within the Democratic Party and a vocal supporter of Israel. During the current election cycle, he has received, according to Al Jazeera, roughly $195,000 in campaign contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated political action committees. While Goldman has dismissed allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, he has previously characterized the humanitarian situation in the enclave as catastrophic.