Portland Coffee Shop Withdrew from Gaza Project
The owner of Heretic Coffee pulled out of a partnership after public backlash regarding the collective's founders.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Coffee
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Heretic Coffee, a business based in Southeast Portland, has withdrawn from a planned initiative to build a coffee shop in Gaza. Owner Josh White ended the partnership following intense online criticism regarding the history of the Humanite Peace Collective founders.
Why it matters
The decision follows significant public backlash over the past of Humanite Peace Collective founders Jeremy and Jessica Courtney, who were previously fired from a prior nonprofit amid reports of a hostile work environment.
Heretic Coffee has operated in Portland for 2 years, while the Delaware-based Humanite Peace Collective has been active since 2022. The Gaza project successfully raised $40,000 in total funds.
The players
Heretic Coffee
This is a two-year-old coffee business based in Southeast Portland.
Josh White
He is the owner of Heretic Coffee and a former field correspondent for the Humanite Peace Collective.
Humanite Peace Collective
Founded in 2022 and based in Delaware, this organization manages the project to build a coffee shop in Gaza.
Jeremy and Jessica Courtney
They are the founders of the Humanite Peace Collective who were previously dismissed from the organization Preemptive Love following reports of a hostile work environment.
The details
Josh White, who served as a field correspondent for the collective since February 2025, announced the withdrawal on Thursday night. While the partnership has ended, the Humanite Peace Collective stated it will retain the $40,000 in funds and continue the initiative independently.
Timeline
Humanite Peace Collective was founded in 2022.
Josh White began working with the organization in February 2025.
The partnership was initially announced on September 18, 2026.
The withdrawal from the project was announced on September 24, 2026.
Culture Shift
This situation follows a documented trend of social media-driven consumer pressure forcing small businesses to reevaluate their partnerships. It highlights the growing scrutiny on the personal histories of nonprofit leaders and how that impacts local business associations.
Local residents and customers of Heretic Coffee can expect the business to pivot away from the Gaza project entirely following the owner's announcement. This withdrawal suggests that community sentiment played a decisive role in the business's operational choices.
The takeaway
Transparency regarding organizational history remains a critical factor for businesses engaged in charitable or community-based projects. Consumers often exert significant influence on corporate partnerships by holding companies accountable for their affiliations.
Further reading
Find more local updates on the industry in the Coffee section.
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