Starbucks CEO Apologizes For Arrests Of 2 Men In Viral Video
PHILADELPHIA (CBSNEWS/AP) - The chief executive of Starbucks has apologized after a video of two men being arrested at a Philadelphia location went viral. Starbucks' CEO Kevin Johnson issued a statement saying the situation had a "reprehensible outcome." He promised the company has "immediately begun a thorough investigation of our practices."
The video, captured by author Melissa DePino, shows the tail end of what occurred during the incident that has led to public outrage. The men were waiting to meet their friend when they were asked to leave, witnesses said. Police were then called to the scene.
@Starbucks The police were called because these men hadn't ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing. All the other white ppl are wondering why it's never happened to us when we do the same thing. pic.twitter.com/0U4Pzs55Ci
— Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 12, 2018
Lauren Wimmer, an attorney for the men, declined to identify them but told CBS Philadelphia they were at the Starbucks for less than 15 minutes, waiting for a third person to arrive for a business meeting over a real estate project. By the time that person arrived, so did the police.
"The video, in this case, essentially speaks for itself," Wimmer said. "These guys were doing what people do every day, they were having a meeting and they were undoubtedly singled out because of their race." People inside the Starbucks at the time also thought the men were being singled out because of their race, so some stepped in to try to help.
"Six or seven of us went outside and were asking the police officers why are they doing this. They eventually took the two away," said Kant Khatri, who witnessed the arrest.
Johnson, the Starbucks CEO, insisted the company "stands firmly against discrimination or racial profiling." He said he hopes to meet with the two men to offer a personal apology.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross defended his officers' decision to arrest the men. Ross said Starbucks employees called police to say the men were trespassing. He said they came in to use the restroom but were denied because they hadn't bought anything.