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Starbucks to Close 8,000 Stores for One-Day Racial Bias Training

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Two black men were arrested and handcuffed for refusing to leave when a store employee denied them access to the restroom at a Philadelphia Starbucks. (Twitter)

Starbucks announced Tuesday that it would close 8,000 stores across the US on May 29 to deliver training to 175,000 employees “designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, prevent discrimination and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome,” according to a statement from the company.

The announcement comes after two Black men were arrested for trespassing at the Philadelphia location while waiting for a friend, prompting protests at the location and calls a nationwide boycott.

The manager who called police is no longer employed by the company. The Starbucks CEO met with the two men Monday.

“I’ve spent the last few days in Philadelphia with my leadership team listening to the community, learning what we did wrong and the steps we need to take to fix it,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson in a statement announcing the training. “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.”