Goldman was defeated by a primary challenger on Tuesday after a primary campaign during which Goldman’s support for Israel was a major issue
Roughly 50 people gathered outside a Poetica Coffee location in Brooklyn Wednesday morning to protest the chain’s refusal to serve Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.) over his support for Israel.
The incident—which came to light after Poetica announced on social media it was refunding Goldman’s $9.82 purchase and that he was not welcome back—ignited a firestorm and a federal probe from the Department of Justice.
The post called Goldman, who is Jewish, a “fascist” accustomed to sipping “genocide juice” and Poetica, founded and owned by Parviz Mukhamadkulov, an Uzbek immigrant who owes New York State nearly $400,000 in unpaid sales tax, refunded his purchase.
Goldman said after the fact that he’d bought a coffee at the branch after his seven-year-old daughter used its restroom, and that the barista had provided excellent service. Later, he told CNN that he did not think the DOJ should investigate the incident.
Others at risk of being targeted by Poetica said they felt differently. “As a Jewish civil rights movement we need to stand strong and stand firm—which is why we’re here today. A Jew was denied service, full stop. Period,” Michelle Ahdoot, director of programming and strategy at End Jew Hatred told the Washington Free Beacon.
Ahdoot said her movement would not be stopped even after election results saw a slate of candidates accused of antisemitism sweep Democratic primaries. Goldman himself was defeated by a giant margin by former city comptroller Brad Lander in a primary campaign dominated by the Israel issue.
“We have no choice but to never get deflated. We have to keep rising up even when we get pushed down,” she said.
Many attendees carried Israeli and American flags, and one man held a blown-up image of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching together during the civil rights movement.
“I am appalled at what happened in this coffee shop,” said Susan Schwartz, a retiree who attended the event. “Nobody has a right to exclude someone because of their political beliefs. Nobody should do this. I have no hatred to anybody—except my eighth-grade teacher.”
Muffins were provided by Harvest Bakery with organizers at one point offering them to NYPD officers stationed at the event.
“I want to make one note of our incredible NYPD who takes care of us,” said one rally speaker before leading a chant cheering on the city police force.
“Truly, thank you to these heroes, these officers here that have really protected us when the pro-terror mobs, the pro-Hamas mobs have come after us. They’ve been the ones protecting us so God bless you. And we know while the mayor wants to defund you, we will never let that happen.”
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, a fierce opponent of Israel whose support for Lander was likely instrumental in Goldman’s ouster, on Tuesday demurred when asked to condemn Poetica Coffee’s actions.
About 20 counterprotesters were also arrayed at the edges of the event—many of whom came from the extremist Neturei Karta Jewish sect which is passionately anti-Israel. Other supporters of Poetica, many of whom were overweight, congregated inside the coffee shop, leering at protest organizers and the press.
Mukhamadkulov, the tax-cheating owner, was nowhere to be found. Poetica cofounder Shahnoza Dusmatova was also MIA.
In addition to his bad debts Mukhamadkulov has donated to Maine progressive Graham Platner and his cafe has also been cited by NYC health inspectors for unsanitary conditions.
Read the full article here
