Protesters convened outside a Brooklyn coffee shop, Poetica Coffee, on Wednesday, displaying Israeli flags and leveling accusations of antisemitism against the establishment for banning Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., due to his pro-Israel stance.
"We're here today to show that we're not going anywhere. We're standing proud in our identity. We're proud to be Jewish. And we're not going to be intimidated by businesses who believe that there is a right or wrong view that Jews should hold on Israel," Jayne Zirkle, an organizer with The Lawfare Project, told Fox News Digital.
Poetica Coffee, with multiple New York City locations, had publicly criticized Goldman on social media after the congressman visited the establishment with his daughter. Goldman stated he entered the cafe because his daughter needed to use the restroom and purchased a coffee in gratitude for the barista's kindness.
In a now-deleted social media post, the coffee shop stated, "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. We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica."
Goldman, who identifies as a liberal Zionist, responded to the post, noting that his experience in the cafe was pleasant and expressing hope that the barista would receive her tip. He also characterized the accusation of supporting genocide as "crazy."
The incident occurred as Goldman faced a significant challenge in his Democratic primary race, ultimately losing his House seat to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
In the wake of the social media post, the Justice Department's Office for Civil Rights announced it had opened an investigation into Poetica Coffee concerning alleged "denial of service taunts" directed at Goldman. However, Goldman indicated he did not believe the incident warranted a federal investigation.
Demonstrators gathered on Wednesday, with some holding Israeli and American flags and others displaying Palestinian flags. Those protesting Poetica Coffee's actions argued that the ban constituted antisemitism, while counter-protesters engaged with them. Zirkle rejected the notion that politics was the sole driver of the shop's decision, emphasizing Goldman's initial intent to purchase coffee.
Another protester suggested a difficulty in separating anti-Zionism from antisemitism, stating, "It's horrible because they say it's anti-Zionism, but anti-Zionism could [equate to] antisemitism because most Jewish people are Zionists."
Ramon Maislen, a Brooklyn resident, views the incident as indicative of a broader trend in the borough, where he perceives some individuals accept Jewish people only if they disavow Zionism or Israel. He added, "I've talked to people and Park Slope and Williamsburg and other places in Brooklyn that fully support Hamas."
Critics of Poetica Coffee pointed to the establishment's website, which describes itself as a place "where the door doesn't close on anyone, where tea gets poured before anyone asks who you are," contrasting this with their treatment of Goldman. Zirkle summarized the protest's sentiment by stating, "There shouldn't be a political test that anybody should have to pass to be treated with dignity."