Starbucks to close US stores for afternoon of ‘racial-bias education’

New York (AFP) – Starbucks announced Tuesday that it would close more than 8,000 US stores on May 29 to conduct “racial-bias education” following the arrest of two black men in one of its cafes.

“While this is not limited to Starbucks, we’re committed to being a part of the solution,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson, as the mammoth chain seeks to recover from nationwide outrage over the incident in Philadelphia last week.

“Closing our stores for racial bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities.”