Starbucks to briefly close all Canadian stores on June 11 for bias training

By News Staff, The Associated Press

Starbucks Canada will briefly close all Canadian stores on June 11 for bias training.

The coffee giant’s US division has a similar training session planned for employees at all of its 8,000 American stores on May 29.

“On Monday, June 11, 2018, we will close all our company-operated stores and offices across Canada for a portion of the afternoon, for partners to participate in a training session designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome,” Starbucks Canada said in a statement Friday.

The closures and training sessions come after two black men were arrested for sitting at a Philadelphia Starbucks without ordering on April 12.

Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, both 23, said they were waiting at the coffee shop to meet a third man about a potential real estate opportunity.

Instead they ended up being led out of the coffee shop in handcuffs after a store manager called police.

After spending hours in jail, they were released and no charges were filed.


Related stories:

Black men arrested at Starbucks settle for $1 and $200k program for youth
Starbucks to close U.S. stores for an afternoon for bias training


Video of the arrests went viral, and sparked a nation-wide discussion on racial profiling.

Nelson and Robinson have since settled with the city for a symbolic $1 each and a promise from officials to set up a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs.

Starbucks announced it had reached a financial settlement with the men. The amount was not disclosed.

Starbucks also agreed to pay for their college educations.

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