Starbucks to shut 8,000 U.S. outlets for bias training after protests

StarbucksCoffee Co. says it will close its more than 8,000 company-owned outlets in the U.S. for part of a day in May to conduct "racial-bias education" for its staff in the wake of the recent arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia.

In a release issued Tuesday,Starbuckssaid the stores and its corporate officeswill be shut forthe afternoon onMay 29 so its 175,000 U.S. employees can go through training toaddress "implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, prevent discrimination and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome."

Company CEOKevin Johnson said:"While this is not limited to Starbucks, we're committed to being a part of the solution.

"Closing our stores for racial bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities," he said.

In a tweet, Starbucks said its was "taking a hard look at who we are as a company."

"We're ashamed & recognize that racial bias is a problem we must address," the tweet said.

The two men were arrested by police on April 12while they werein the shop waiting to meet someone. An employeeat the outlet called 911 to say the men were trespassing. According to media reports, officials have said police were told the men asked to use the store's restroom but they weredenied because they hadn't bought anything and they refused to
leave.

The men were subsequently released for lack of evidence that a crime had been committed, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office said.

The Starbucks employee who called police no longer works at the store, a company spokesperson said without giving further details.

Johnson said the arrests should not have happened, and the company and a lawyer for the two men said Johnson met themand offered an apology.

On Monday,about two dozen demonstratorsoccupied the Philadelphia shop where the incident took place.Starbuckshas also faced abacklash on social media sincethe arrests with thehashtag #BoycottStarbuckstrending on Twitter.

Starbucksshares rose 40 cents, or about 0.7per cent, to close at $59.83US on Nasdaq.