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Starbucks Bans Employees from Wearing Black Lives Matter Clothing; and Walmart to Stop Placing ‘Multicultural’ Products Behind Locked Cases.
Starbucks employees received an internal memo last week. The memo warned staffers not to wear any clothes or accessories associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.
BuzzFeed News obtained the memo, which reminded staffers that such messages are prohibited. The company has a policy against accessories that “advocated a political, religious or personal issue.”
However, employees told the news outlet that the company regularly allows and encourages employees to wear pins in support of other issues, such as LGBTQ equality.
“Starbucks LGBTQ+ partners wear LGBTQ+ pins and shirts, that also could incite and create violent experiences amongst partners and customers,” one employee told BuzzFeed.
“We have partners who experienced harassment and transphobia/homophobia for wearing their pins and shirts, and Starbucks still stands behind them.”
A top company executive sent the video along with a memo. The executive warned that “agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles” of the movement could seek to “amplify divisiveness” if the messages are displayed in stores.
“We know your intent is genuine and understand how personal this is for so many of us. This is important and we hear you,” read the memo.
A Starbucks spokesman confirmed to BuzzFeed that the memo was authentic. They said it aimed “to create a safe and welcoming” environment in Starbucks locations.
“We respect all of our partners’ opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy,” said the spokesman.
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Walmart confirmed this week that they will no longer place certain items in locked cases. Those items generally include “multicultural hair care and beauty products.”
The company has received criticism in the past for this practice. That is because of the implication that the customers who buy those products the most cannot be trusted.
Walmart customer Judah Bell says that the process involved is “humiliating.”
“In my neighborhood Walmart, you have to go find somebody and then if they don’t have the key, they have to find somebody, so you’re just standing there waiting, sometimes for as long as 10 to 15 minutes,” said Bell.
“Predominantly African American people are buying those products, so the assumption is we’re thieves,” said another customer.
In an interview with NBCNews, Walmart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said that the company is “sensitive to the issue and understands the concerns.” He said that Walmart will implement the new policy “as soon as possible.”
“As a retailer serving millions of customers every day from diverse backgrounds, Walmart does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. Like other retailers, the cases were put in place to deter shoplifters from some products such as electronics, automotive, cosmetics, and other personal care products,” said Lopez.
What’s next, locking up garage door openers?
Related: Olive Garden Customer Demands Nonblack Server – Manager Says Okay
