DOJ probes Brooklyn coffee shop after anti-Israel post targeting Goldman
What's new: Federal civil rights lawyers are examining whether refusing service over religion or national origin broke public-accommodations law.
The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Poetica Coffee, a small Brooklyn chain that posted it would have refused service to Rep. Dan Goldman if staff had recognized him during a Sunday visit with his 7-year-old daughter. The shop later refunded his purchase and wrote online that it did not serve “racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers.” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said federal law bars public accommodations, including coffee shops, from discriminating based on race, religion or national origin. Goldman, a New York Democrat who is Jewish and supports Israel, said he stopped in so his daughter could use the restroom and bought coffee to thank the staff member who helped them.