Protests have been taking place in Philadelphia after a video went viral showing two black men being arrested at a Starbucks. Apparently, the men were waiting for a friend Thursday when they were asked by an employee to leave because they had not placed an order. After refusing, the police were called and both were led out in handcuffs just as their friend was arriving.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson has apologized, but a Black Lives Matter activist who organized a weekend protest rejected the apology saying it was "about saving face." Johnson also announced plans to visit Philadelphia soon and possibly meet with the two men face-to-face.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia's police commissioner is defending the arrest of two black men at a Starbucks saying his officers "did absolutely nothing wrong." Police Commissioner Richard Ross said via Facebook that everything was by the book. "They did a service that they were called to do," Ross says of the officers. "And if you think about it logically, that if a business calls and they say that someone is here that I no longer wish to be in my business, (officers) now have a legal obligation to carry out their duties. And they did just that."
Was Starbucks' racist? No....was Starbucks stupid...yes.