8000 Starbucks stores in US to close down for anti-racial training

As many as 8000 Starbucks cafes across the US will close down on May 29 to acquire anti-racial training following an incident of racial profiling that sparked massive outrage in the country.

Consequently, the coffee giant has decided to train some 175,000 of its employees working in stores and corporate offices as part of a training program, according to a statement issued by the company’s website two days back. The statement further said that some 8,000 Starbucks stores will halt operation for the purpose on Tuesday, May 29.

The announcement of conducting an anti-racial training came in wake of an incident that occurred at a Starbucks Philadelphia outlet where two black men were arrested after they were asked to leave the store. As they refused to do so, because they were yet to make a purchase, a manager called the police which arrested them for trespassing.

The case, a classic example of racial and ethnic discrimination, followed a massive uproar as protestors demanded that the store be shut down, which eventually led the company’s CEO and Chairman to fly to Philadelphia to handle matters.

This is not the first time such an incident has happened. Starbucks had earlier conducted a training session of the same sort in 2008, which the CEO believes had failed majorly.

“Regretfully, our practices and training led to a bad outcome—the basis for the call to the Philadelphia police department was wrong,” said CEO Starbucks Kevin Johnson.