Starbucks Arrests: Former CEO Howard Schultz Says Manager Might Have Not Called Cops If Men Were White
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said the manager of one of the company's shops in Philadelphia where two black men were arrested last year might not have called authorities if the two men had been white.
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The acknowledgement came Wednesday night at an event in the city where Schultz was confronted by the person who first shared the video of two black men getting arrested at the shop.
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Speaking during a stop on his book tour, Schultz — who is considering a possible 2020 presidential bid — says the Starbucks manager contacted police after she "felt a threat."
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But Melissa DePino, who first posted the video of the men being handcuffed and led out of the store by police, told the crowd Schultz wasn't describing the event correctly.
In 911 audio of the incident, which happened on April 12 at a Starbucks located at 18th and Spruce, an employee called police to say there were two men who were refusing to make a purchase or leave.
"I have two gentlemen in my cafe that are refusing to make a purchase or leave," the employee said to 911 dispatchers.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)