NYC coffee shop bars Jewish congressman: ‘We don’t serve genocide enablers’

Poetica Coffee, a cafe in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, publicly declared it would not serve US Rep. Dan Goldman, labeling him a "genocide enabler." The shop posted a photo of the Jewish lawmaker on social media, stating, "We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers."

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We don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers.

The cafe further elaborated, "Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away." Poetica Coffee also mentioned refunding Goldman's $9.82 purchase, adding, "We don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways)." The post concluded with a direct message: "Don’t ever come to Poetica."

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We don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways).

Goldman, a centrist Democrat who supports Israel's existence but has been critical of its government and the war in Gaza, explained that he visited the shop because his young daughter needed to use the restroom. He noted that the barista was kind and allowed her to use the facilities, prompting him to purchase a coffee. "I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved," he stated.

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The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and me, allowing her to use the bathroom even though we had not purchased anything.

The incident occurred as Goldman faces a primary challenge and amid ongoing debate over Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which critics have accused of genocide, a charge Israel vehemently denies. Goldman himself has previously described the war as a "humanitarian catastrophe" and called the current Israeli government an "extremist government."

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I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved.