On Wednesday morning, roughly 50 people assembled outside the Poetica Coffee outlet in Brooklyn to protest the establishment's decision not to serve Representative Dan Goldman, Democrat of New York, because of his public support for Israel.
The controversy erupted after Poetica posted on social media that it would refund Goldman’s $9.82 purchase and that he was not welcome back. The announcement triggered a wave of criticism and led the Department of Justice to open a federal investigation.
Goldman later explained that he had bought a coffee at the shop after his seven‑year‑old daughter used its restroom, noting that the barista had provided excellent service. In an interview with CNN he expressed the view that a DOJ probe was unnecessary.
Supporters of the protest argued that the refusal constituted discrimination based on political belief. Michelle Ahdoot, director of programming and strategy at End Jew Hatred, said the incident highlighted the need for the Jewish civil‑rights movement to stand firm, adding that a Jew had been denied service.
Many participants displayed Israeli and American flags, and one demonstrator carried a large image depicting Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching together during the civil‑rights era.
"I am appalled at what happened in this coffee shop," said Susan Schwartz, a retiree who attended the rally.
Approximately 20 counter‑protesters gathered at the periphery of the crowd, several of whom were identified as members of the Neturei Karta sect, a fringe group known for its strong anti‑Israel stance.
Inside the café, a separate group of Poetica supporters, described by observers as largely overweight, remained inside, allegedly leering at the organisers and the press.
The owner, Parviz Mukhamadkulov, who has faced accusations of tax evasion, was not present, and co‑founder Shahnoza Dusmatova was also absent from the scene.