Starbucks Bans Employees From Wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ Gear
Starbucks is under fire for a recent memo sent out to staff. In it, the coffee company prohibits employees from wearing Black Lives Matter attire.
Per Buzzfeed News, “Black Lives Matter attire was prohibited from the lists of things employees can wear due to its dress code policy, which also includes any type of political, religious, or personal accessories or clothing.” They add, “However, Starbucks not only exempts buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, but hands them out.”
In a memo, management wrote that “Black Lives Matter could be misunderstood and potentially incite violence.” Buzzfeed also reveals that in addition, employees saw a video where the VP of inclusion and diversity says that when it comes to Black Lives Matter accessories, “agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the movement and could use them to amplify divisiveness.”
This comes after Starbucks went on Twitter last week to announce that they were committed to being “part of the change.”
Black lives matter. We are committed to being a part of change.
— Starbucks (@Starbucks) June 4, 2020
You can find educational resources at https://t.co/xSXwaw2vQA. pic.twitter.com/ZxifsW7oeO
Of course, social media is not happy about the rules Starbucks has put into place for their employees.
https://twitter.com/Marmel/status/1271182941012422656
April 2018
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) June 11, 2020
NEVER FORGET
Two black men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philly for doing nothing but waiting for a friend.
& now Starbucks is banning employees from wearing anything in support of black lives?
THIS IS INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM #BoycottStarbucks pic.twitter.com/Ja1I3IdtCg
https://twitter.com/the_mod_woman/status/1271176069559844865
Guess I won’t be buying anything from @Starbucks since they don’t support us. But will force their employees to wear LGBTQ pins. How you support equality for only some groups and not all? #BoycottStarbucks
— KING BISHOP 🇭🇹 (@IAmBishop617) June 11, 2020
Starbucks claims to support BLM but they advertise on Fox News and they also rent space from Donald Trump in Trump Tower.#BoycottStarbucks
— Secret Agent Number Six (@DesignationSix) June 11, 2020
White girls joining the BLM movement#BoycottStarbucks pic.twitter.com/8aE9QTDZ3P
— Guy P. Football (@Guy_P_Football) June 11, 2020
To all the #BoycottStarbucks people shocked that Starbucks is against BLM, do you not remember in 2018 when their employees wouldn't let 2 black customers use their restroom and then had them arrested for trespassing?😑
— Sam ✨ (@xoxoxoitssam) June 11, 2020
plss this is not shocking😏 pic.twitter.com/ivisJ9nl0y
As someone who works for the bucks I could not agree more. Here is the memo: #BoycottStarbucks pic.twitter.com/NDap6T21Ue
— Gypsy Rose’s thot daughter (@joshua_beyonce) June 11, 2020
Me after ordering some overpriced ass coffee from starbucks even though they cancelled 😭😭😗 #starbucks #BoycottStarbucks pic.twitter.com/jsDDlvuz4R
— hum1l8m¥d1cç (@itzjordx) June 11, 2020
