Protests Erupt Outside Brooklyn Coffee Shop Over Treatment of Lawmaker

In Brooklyn, Israeli flags and anti-Semitic messages were seen outside a coffee shop on Wednesday morning, as demonstrators protested against the café’s owners for prohibiting a Jewish lawmaker due to his pro-Israel stance.

“We’re here today to make it clear that we’re not going anywhere. We’re proud of who we are and our Jewish identity. We won’t be intimidated by a business that thinks there’s a right or wrong opinion for Jews on Israel,” said protest organizer Jane Zirkle, who is involved with the Lawfare Project, in a statement.

Poetica Coffee, which operates several locations in New York City, has become a contentious site after it publicly criticized Rep. Dan Goldman (D.N.Y.) on social media. Goldman recounted a visit to the café where she bought coffee as a thank-you to a helpful barista after her daughter needed to use the restroom.

Goldman, who identifies as a liberal Zionist and has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposes the notion that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, according to The New York Times. Poetica Coffee had previously posted a photo of Goldman at their café on Instagram, later deleting it, and stated they had refunded her money.

“Hey @repdangoldman, looks like you stopped by for coffee. Can you tell how different the Massacre Juice tastes? Or is it hard for you to tell the difference?” the post read. It went on to declare that the café does not serve individuals who are perceived as racists or fascists and that they would have denied service had they recognized her immediately.

Goldman expressed disappointment over the café’s social media posts, clarifying that the barista she interacted with was polite and accommodating. “I hope she gets the tip she deserves,” Goldman mentioned, adding that despite being refunded, she valued the positive interaction.

This incident emerges amidst Goldman’s re-election battle. He recently faced a significant defeat in the Democratic primary against Brad Lander, who received support from Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani.

Goldman later referred to the café’s social media remarks as entirely unrepresentative of his personal experience, highlighting the irrationality in accusing someone without knowing them. “It’s crazy,” he noted. “We need to be better than this.”

The situation attracted the attention of the Justice Department, which is investigating whether the coffee shop’s actions constituted discriminatory service against Goldman. However, the lawmaker himself suggested that such an inquiry might be unnecessary.

Protests gathered both pro-Israel and anti-Israel supporters along Lorimer Street, resulting in confrontations between the two sides, as participants expressed their differing views on Goldman’s treatment at the café.

Zirkle asserted that the decision to ban Goldman was not politically motivated and emphasized that he merely came in for coffee. Meanwhile, another protestor remarked on the complexity and often futile nature of separating anti-Zionism from anti-Semitism, stating, “It’s scary because it’s often equated as such.”

Ramon Mayzlen, a Jewish resident who has been active in fighting anti-Semitism in Brooklyn, shared his concerns about how anti-Zionist sentiments have surfaced in progressive circles. “In progressive areas, anti-Zionists may seem open to Jews as long as they’re anti-Zionist themselves,” he mentioned.

Many protesters drew attention to Poetica Coffee’s website, which presents the café as a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of background. Critics pointed out the contradiction between this messaging and the treatment of Goldman.

“There shouldn’t be an ideological test for customers,” Zirkle argued, reinforcing the idea that everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

As of now, neither Goldman’s office nor Poetica Coffee has commented on the unfolding controversy.