Folks are now questioning the coffee company’s motives, considering they said they’d take action in “supporting our Black partners, customers and communities” in a June 4 statement following a week of protest over George Floyd‘s death.
The company vowed $1 million to “organizations promoting racial equity and more inclusive and just communities” saying organizations will be nominated by Starbucks “partners (employees).”
The company also said they are “actively hosting open and necessary conversations with our partners (employees) about racism the Black community faces.
However, according to BuzzFeed News, the company sent out a memo to employees last week explicitly saying that Black Lives Matter attire was prohibited from the list of things employees can wear due to the company’s dress code policy.
However, many employees pointed out to BuzzFeed News that the coffee company allows buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality.
