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Justice Department Sues Oakland Coffee House for Discrimination Against Jewish Patrons

The suit relies on Title II of the Civil Rights Act, alleges refusal of service to Star of David-wearing patrons, accuses staff of anti-Semitic remarks, cites the display of inverted red triangles on the coffee house’s walls.

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaking at a news conference. The Department of Justice filed a civil rights lawsuit against an Oakland coffee shop.
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Overview

  • The complaint names owner Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC as defendants in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
  • It alleges two incidents in June and October of 2024 where staff ordered Jewish customers wearing Star of David caps to leave after calling them Zionists and accusing them of genocide.
  • The filing details the October 7, 2024 introduction of two drinks—“Iced In Tea Fada” and “Sweet Sinwar”—on the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel.
  • The lawsuit highlights inverted red triangles spray-painted on an exterior wall, a symbol historically associated with violence against Jews.
  • Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the Justice Department will seek injunctive relief to end the alleged discriminatory practices and protect civil rights.