California Coffee Shop Refused To Serve Jewish Customers, DOJ Alleges

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit Monday against a California business over allegations it had discriminated against Jewish customers on several occasions.

The lawsuit, filed against Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC of Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, alleges the business refused to serve customers he identified as Jewish on at least two occasions, according to the DOJ’s report. The business also reportedly housed antisemitic symbols, painted on the exterior of the building.

“It is illegal, intolerable, and reprehensible for any American business open to the public to refuse to serve Jewish customers,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a prepared statement. “Through our vigorous enforcement of Title II of the Civil Rights Act and other laws prohibiting race and religious discrimination, the Justice Department is committed to combating anti-Semitism and discrimination and protecting the civil rights of all Americans.”

The first noted instance claims Harara identified a Jewish customer, Michael Radice, by the Star of David on his baseball cap and demanded he leave his establishment. On another occasion, the owner allegedly identified another Jewish customer and his five-year-old son and demanded they leave, accusing him of “being a ‘Zionist,’ and supporting ‘genocide’” He then falsely claimed they were “trespassing” to the Oakland police, according to the report.

The suit also claims the coffee shop released two antisemetic drinks on Oct. 7, 2024, allegedly in memory on the fist anniversarry of the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. These drinks were named “Iced In Tea Fada,” a reference to intifada, and “Sweet Sinwar,” a reference to a deceased Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, who led the October 7 attacks against Israel.