Starbucks has officially dropped the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from formulating their racial training program after facing pressure from leaders in the Women’s March.
The decision to nix Starbucks from the program came after Women’s March organizer Tamika Mallory criticized the ADL’s initial involvement.
“The ADL is CONSTANTLY attacking black and brown people,” Women’s March organizer Tamika Mallory tweeted. “This is a sign that they are tone deaf and not committed to addressing the concerns of black folk.”
Starbucks spokeswoman Jaime Riley told Politico in an email that the decision to drop the ADL was due to the company’s “multi-phase approach to addressing bias.” The ADL would however be featured in an advisory role.
ADL spokesman Todd Gutnick told Politico, “When Starbucks asked for assistance, we agreed to help. As to whether Starbucks may or may not now want to utilize our expertise, you should ask them.”
In a press release, the Zioness Movement criticized Starbucks for their decision.
“What a painful irony that, in their attempt to combat racial stereotyping, Starbucks has given in to purveyors of other hatreds,” the movement stated. “Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour have no authority lecturing anyone – especially one of America’s largest and most influential corporations – on bigotry.”
The movement proceeded to slam Mallory and Sarsour for their prior associations with the “unabashed anti-Semite” Louis Farrakhan and defended the ADL.
“The ADL has been on the front lines of civil rights advocacy and anti-bias work for more than a hundred years and is uniquely qualified to provide trainings on white supremacy, implicit bias and divisive stereotyping, helping to build stronger, more open and welcoming communities,” the Zioness Movement said. “We call on Starbucks to stand up to hatred and bigotry, and reinstate the ADL as a leading partner in this necessary conversation.”
Starbucks’ racial training program is being organized in response to an incident in which two black men were arrested for refusing to leave a Starbucks after they were denied from using the bathroom since they didn’t purchase anything. The program is scheduled for May 29.
