Starbucks bans employees from wearing black lives matter clothes or accessories

In a memo last week, Starbucks told employees that they were banned from wearing any clothing or accessories that support the Black Lives Matter movement. While this new order may spark a lot of mixed reactions, the major concern for Starbucks is that the movement could be misunderstood and could potentially spur violence.

According to a Starbucks spokesperson, it is the company’s responsibility to ensure that all its customers and staff are well-considered. While the company is committed to supporting ending “systemic racism” it is still committed to creating “a safe and welcoming” environment for both customers and staff regardless alike.

In the memo, Starbucks also reminded its employees of an existing company policy that clearly states the forbiddance of any accessories that advocates any political, religious, or personal ideologies at work. Starbucks’ vice-president of diversity and inclusion Nzinga Shaw shared an in-house video that showed why the BLM movement clothing and accessories were against company policy. 

“There are agitators who misconstrue that fundamental principles of Black Lives Matter movement – and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness,” the video reads.

On the contrary, it was reportedly said that some Starbucks employees said the company was permissive in the area of advocating or promoting marriage equality and LGBTQ rights.

While Starbucks stands firm on its Black Lives Matter clothing and accessories prohibition, the company has faced major criticisms and backlash. It was reportedly stated that Starbucks recently gave some of its employees pins and Gay Pride shirts, starting from June 1. 

On the same day (June 1), the official Starbucks Twitter account tweeted an image with the words, “We will confront racism to create a more inclusive and just world. We stand in solidarity with our Black partners, customers, and communities. We will not be bystanders.” 

As regards Starbucks' statement claims towards supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, W. Kamau Bell, host of CNN series United Shades of America, backlashed Starbucks writing, “Remember when they wrote “Let’s talk about racism!” on the cups? Remember when they closed half a day because 2 Black men were arrested for being Black at Starbucks? As we always thought, they are only about #BlackLivesMatter when it’s co.nvenient.”

Following the backlash on Starbucks with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks, the company reversed its stance and now allows employees to wear BLM clothing and accessories. The reversal was made known on Friday