A small coffee shop chain in New York City created a firestorm with a provocative social media post condemning a congressman who visited one of its branches on Sunday, further underlining tensions over support for Israel in one of New York\u2019s most progressive and predominantly Jewish congressional districts.<\/p>\n
The congressman, Dan Goldman, visited Poetica Coffee in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, outside his district, with his 7-year-old daughter on Sunday, the last day for voters to cast early ballots in a Democratic primary race where he is facing a strenuous challenge.<\/p>\n
Hours later, Poetica put up an Instagram post that appeared to be written by the shop\u2019s owner that made it clear, in harsh language, that he was unwelcome there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,\u201d the caption reads under a photo of Mr. Goldman looking at his phone in front of the shop\u2019s cash register, an image that appeared to have been taken from a surveillance camera. \u201cDo you see how it doesn\u2019t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n
The post continued, \u201cWe don\u2019t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers or anyone in between. Too bad we didn\u2019t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Goldman, whose defense of Israel has become a divisive issue<\/a> in his bid for re-election in the 10th District, in parts of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, responded to the post in its comments, noting that he visited Poetica so that his daughter could use the restroom but purchased a coffee to thank one of its employees for allowing her to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cThe barista could not have been nicer to my 7-yr-old daughter and me,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI made sure to buy a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you at least make sure that she gets the tip that she deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n By Monday, the post was no longer visible: The Instagram account appeared to have been deactivated. But images of the post, as well as Mr. Goldman\u2019s reply, were widely circulated on X, leading to criticism of Poetica on social media and in some new Yelp reviews.<\/p>\n On Monday, Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general overseeing the Department of Justice\u2019s Civil Rights Division, said in a post on X<\/a> that her office was investigating the incident.<\/p>\n The Poetica post and the reaction to it captured the volatile and at times petty manifestations of voters\u2019 opinions about Israel and political candidates\u2019 support for the country, days before a primary election largely animated by the conflict in the Middle East<\/a>.<\/p>\n