The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into the "Poetica Coffee" coffee shop chain, which operates in New York and is inspired by Uzbek culture. Al Jazeera reported this.
The investigation was triggered by a statement about refusing service to U.S. House of Representatives member Dan Goldman. Harmit Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, announced that she had ordered an investigation into this incident.
"Such actions are not only reprehensible but may also be illegal. If signs of a violation are found, appropriate legal measures will be taken," she wrote on her social media page.
It turned out that "Poetica Coffee," which has several branches in Brooklyn and the East Village, had posted a sharply worded statement on social media on June 21 about Dan Goldman, who had visited one of their coffee shops.
In it, the establishment stated that it does not serve individuals who support racism, fascism, homophobia, and genocide. It also said that the $9.82 spent by Goldman was refunded and requested that he not visit the coffee shop in the future.
The founder of the coffee shop, Parviz Muhammadkulov, has not yet made an official comment on the situation.
Dan Goldman stated that he does not consider it appropriate for a federal investigation to be conducted into this matter. In his opinion, law enforcement agencies should direct their resources to investigating cases of antisemitism being committed against ordinary citizens.
It is not yet clear on what legal basis the Department of Justice might take action against "Poetica Coffee."
Under U.S. federal law and New York State law, businesses are prohibited from refusing service to customers based on their race, religion, gender, or national origin. However, these requirements do not apply to political views or ideological positions.
For context, Dan Goldman is considered among the Democratic Party's pro-Israel politicians and describes himself as a proponent of Zionist ideas.
