Starbucks To Close All Stores For Racial-Bias Training

April 17, 2018 Business, Racism

Starbucks announced Tuesday that it will close all of its more than 8,000 stores nationwide to conduct “racial-bias” training amid a racially charged uproar over the arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia.

Three years ago, Starbucks was widely ridiculed for trying to start a national conversation on race relations by asking its employees to write the words “Race Together” on coffee cups. The initiative, though it backfired, was in line with the company’s longstanding effort to project a progressive and inclusive image.

Those efforts are in stark contrast to the video that went viral over the weekend showing the two black men being arrested by police who were called by an employee. Officials have said police officers were told the men had asked to use the store’s restroom but were denied because they hadn’t bought anything and they refused to leave.

Starbucks will close all 8,000+ of its U.S. stores on May 29 to train employees on racial bias.

Yesterday, people protested the Philadelphia Starbucks where 2 black men were arrested because they were waiting for a friend, after an employee called the police. pic.twitter.com/pH2SYoTO9u

— AJ+ (@ajplus) April 17, 2018

JUST IN: Starbucks CEO announces company will temporarily close all stores in US on May 29 “to conduct racial-bias education geared toward preventing discrimination in our stores.”

The move follows arrest of 2 black men at a Philadelphia store. https://t.co/3L45ZzqROl pic.twitter.com/BU9oMLZn9F

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 17, 2018