An exterior picture of Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, Calif.

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the proprietor of a Palestinian-owned coffee shop in Oakland.

The lawsuit alleges the owner of Jerusalem Coffee House, Fathi Abdulrahim Harara, discriminated against Jewish customers on two occasions in the summer and fall of 2024. Filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the suit accuses Harara and his company, Native Grounds, of violating Title II of the Civil Rights Act, which protects people from discrimination by private businesses on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration has been focused on antisemitism and pro-Palestinian protesters, many at universities that Trump is targeting for cuts in federal funds.

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Last year, Harara allegedly twice confronted customers for wearing hats with the Star of David on them. In June 2024, Los Angeles........

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