PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The mayor of Philadelphia has ordered a city commission to review policies at Starbucks after the arrest of two black men prompted social media users to accuse the company of racial discrimination.
Witnesses say that the two men were handcuffed and escorted from a Philadelphia Starbucks while waiting for a friend. Outrage over the video has prompted a police investigation. https://t.co/FHkeNKUjz9
— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) April 14, 2018
Videos posted online show officers handcuffing the men in the downtown Philadelphia establishment on Thursday.
We apologize to the two individuals and our customers for what took place at our Philadelphia store on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/suUsytXHks
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 14, 2018
Mayor Jim Kenney said Saturday he was "heartbroken" to see the city in the headlines for an incident that appears at this point "to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018."
Heartbroken to see Philly in the headlines for what — at least based on what we know now — appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018. Like all establishments in Philly, Starbucks should be a place where everyone is treated the same https://t.co/oHC9m6ExsG
— Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) April 14, 2018
Kenney says he's asked the Commission on Human Relations to examine the company's policies and procedures "including the extent of, or need for, implicit bias training for its employees."
The city's police commissioner defended the arrests, saying employees said the men wanted to use the restroom but were denied because they hadn't bought anything. He says they repeatedly refused to leave.
