Starbucks faces a boycott after it publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement, but later told employees they're not allowed t...
Starbucks faces a boycott after it publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement, but later told employees they're not allowed to wear BLM-inspired t-shirts or pins.
Store managers at the popular coffee chain relayed requests from employees who wanted to wear the clothes, but were told by superiors that it was against the company's dress code. The managers also were told that BLM swag could potentially incite violence.
An internal memo explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness.
The memo was quoting remarks made by Zing Shaw, the company's vice president of inclusion and diversity.
Starbucks publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement after protests against police brutality followed the police-related slaying of George Floyd, but later told employees they're not allowed to wear BLM-inspired t-shirts (pictured) or pins
An employee wearing a Starbucks green apron is pictured
An internal Starbucks memo addressing BLM-related clothing explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness
'We know your intent is genuine and understand how personal this is for so many of us. This is important and we hear you,' the company continues in the memo obtained by BuzzFeed.
People who learned of the ban took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company.
'If Starbucks is saying #BlackLivesMatter attire is prohibited, and you end up there, Make 'Black Lives Matter' wrote Twitter user Steve Marmel.
He encouraged pople to write their names on Starbucks coffee cups and to shout loudly, 'Black Lives Matter! Your frappacino is ready!' as the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending Thursday.
People who learned of the ban took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. Pictured is a tweet from Steve Marmel which was posted with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks, which was trending Thursday
Marmel's tweet includes a picture of a Starbucks coffee cup with the words, 'Black Lives Matter' written on the side (pictured)
Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban.
Mowgli, who tweets under the handle @KatieMowgli, vowed she would not be visiting the stores.
'I'll be telling EVERYONE I KNOW to boycott them as well, she adds in the tweet.
A Twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban.
In her post, she includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The Twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya.
Starbucks claims its original logo is based on a siren from an ancient Norse woodcut.
Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban;
A twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban
In her post, @MireyaaAzelinn includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya (pictured)
The company says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores.'
It also adds that all within the company can wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network.
Starbucks employees who learned of the memo were critical of the policy.
Starbucks says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores'
'That statement prioritizes those who feel discomfort over Black lives,' Atlanta barista Carl Bensen, 22, told BuzzFeed.
'My skin color incites violence at Starbucks. Should I not come to work?' he asked. 'It is silencing and Starbucks is complicit. Now more than ever, Starbucks needs to stand with us.'
A Starbucks spokesperson told Buzzfeed that while the company was committed to ending systematic racism, the policy still stands to ensure that its stores remain safe and welcoming.
Starbucks has encouraged all in the company to wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network
Starbucks in a tweet on June 1 as protests were erupting over the police-related slaying of George Floyd called for 'open and honest conversations about racial injustices.'
'We respect all of our partners' opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy,' the spokesperson said.
The company created a 'Third Place Policy' in 2018, that says Starbuck is 'committed to creating a culture of warmth and belonging where everyone is welcome.
'We want our stores to be the third place, a warm and welcoming environment where customers can gather and connect,' a statement on the policy explains.
'Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase,' the statement says.
In addition to the policy, Starbucks has pledged $1 million to design anti-bias resources and training to help confront bias and racism. The initiative, Starbucks says, comes through a partnership with Arizona State University.
Starbucks has pledged $1 million to organizations that will promote racial equity. The funding comes through partnership with Arizona State University. A tweet from the company (pictured) announced the initiative
Despite such efforts, Starbucks employees still complained the company was not being sincere enough in light of the George Floyd police-related slaying in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
The 46-year-old black father of two died as he was being arrested by a white officer. Video of the incident shows the now-fired cop Derek Chauvin pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes, causing his death.
Floyd's passing sparked protests across the country against police brutality and calling for reforms.
'We have a police detail outside of the store most days anyway. Let's just call him over if a customer is offended by someone's BLM pin,' an anonymous Starbucks employee told Buzzfeed.
'There's something deeper here,' the employee says, voicing criticism of Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson.
'Kevin Johnson talks a big talk on Twitter, but he's still the head of a multibillion-dollar company that has to keep up with its image,' the employee says. 'God forbid if employees tarnish that pristine global image.'
An anonymous Starbucks employee voice criticism of CEO Kevin Johnson (pictured). 'Kevin Johnson talks a big talk on Twitter, but he's still the head of a multibillion-dollar company that has to keep up with its image,' the employee says.
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