Starbucks Stores Will Close May 29th for Racial Bias Training

I am glad they're doing it.  But I am just astounded that, in 2018, there's a need for it.  As I am sure you have heard by now . . . last Thursday, two black men were arrested at a Starbucks location in Philadelphia.  According to witness accounts, police officers were told that the men were denied access to the restroom because they hadn't purchased anything from the store.  The men told authorities they were waiting for a friend.  Ultimately, there were arrested; however, no charges were brought against the men and they were cleared.  But, as you can imagine, protests erupted and a boycott of Starbucks began.  Now, the company, instead of running from the controversy, is tackling it head on.  Next month, over 8,000 company-owned Starbucks locations, will close so employees can participate in racial bias training.

Today, Starbucks announced it will close its stores the afternoon of Tuesday, May 29th.  All employees, roughly 175,000 of them, will undergo specialized training.

Starbucks has ten locations in the tristate area, including three in Owensboro.  The Owensboro locations are at  Frederica Street and Booth, at Meijer on HWY 54 and inside Owensboro's Target department store.