Starbucks in Canada closing today for racial bias training

Over 1000 Starbucks locations across Canada, everyone of them, including any corporate offices, will be closing around 2:30 this afternoon today to give their employees a couple of hours of training about racial bias.

This came about after two black men were arrested in a Starbucks in Philadelphia on April 12th. Employees at the store called the police becauseashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were sitting in the restaurant but did not purchase anything. It turns out the men were waiting for a collegue to have a business meeting.

Starbucks in Canada have all put sign in their windows that say “we are proud to be a third place. A place between home and work where everyone is welcome. A place where everyone feels that they belong.” And that locations will be closing this afternoon to reconnect with their mission and to make Starbucks an even more welcoming place.

So if you need your afternoon coffee fix today, remember that Starbucks will be closed at 2:30pm.