Two classy dudes
 

These guys have shown class and grace throughout this unbelievable situation.

https://abcn.ws/2w8mRCU

So they are in a retail establishment. They refuse to become customers. They refuse to leave after refusing to become customers - which means they are trespassing - and are mouthy enough they get arrested.

That’s grace and class? Only in the town that booed Santa does that qualify.

So, Trespass laws only apply to certain races? Not where I'm from......

Pfffft.

My black co-worker and I were jettisoned from a tit*y bar in Anchorage after a two minute check out of the talent - we bought no beers/drinks. Just scoping.......... looking for spank bank data.

Lennie was my co-worker. He said "Man. Let's go".

We were kicked out by the manager. A black guy and a cracker. BAM. Buh-Bye. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya. Both in our early 30's.

We coulda been stars. Just no Me Too venue to vent.

Gotta say the subject dudes were very chill. Good for them.

Also, some dude or chick purchases a "Tall" for a buck eighty and they can futz on their laptop all morning.

If you are in a business and not doing any activity that provide income the proprietor...you are guests and should politely leave when asked...regardless of your sex, race, etc. If you don't like that...don't come back. It is not like you have a right to be there or that they will miss your presence/business...since you were buying nothing anyways. Yes, I have been kicked out of a place for loitering. I did not want to leave either...but when threatened with the police, I left. These guys did not. Funny how some folks get a lot of positive attention for actions that are generally looked upon negatively...simply due to race.

1. Without knowing (transcript of video with audio) of exact conversations between all involved - there's no way anyone can realistically comment on what went wrong.

2. In the interview, they agree that rules are rules - but they also say what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. those comments conflict with each other - so there's that.

3. They do come across as chill, so have that going for them, especially under the circumstances

4. Lastly - these people who pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1 left and right when it's not even necessary are a bunch of snowflakes

The End

I read Starbucks paid them handsomely, that was not mentioned in the article. I have to wonder how much Starbucks paid.

This payout from from the city.

It should be pointed out the manager of the store got fired and life is probably ruined.

fixed it for ya

That's pretty funny right there.

I really don't understand anymore nor do I try any longer. They took up space and sat there for a business meeting without buying anything and wanted to used to restroom? So Starbucks had to pay for the water to flush that toilet, provide the water to wash their hands and the paper towels to dry them along with the electricity to run the lights on that bath while he's in there and still keep the toilet clean for the next customer? All this for free so they can have their business meeting, all for free? I bet the manager did not want to ask them to leave because they are afraid of some racial BS. These guys would file suit against the store or the manager himself so they called the cops. Oh, I forgot, they are black. Never mind. They have rights above the law. The brown people are next or are they already there. White people owe them, did you know?

Those two fellas showed great new-world, Kardashian-style business acumen in transferring the non-event into a racial cattle prod, a hefty private payday and momentary quasi-celebrity. Welcome to the USA.

And yes, 'non-event' is my opinion and we can't really know what was said.

Meh, as in the other thread, it's Starbucks, coming in and hanging out to use the free WIFI is part of their thing.

They encourage it.

The question, to which we will likely never know the real answer is, how many times a day are there non paying customers in that specific Starbucks and how often where they asked to leave and was there anything those who were asked to leave had in common?

They got everything they were looking for....their 15 minutes of fame !

Wow, what a bunch of cynical, negative and blatantly wrong comments.

First, Starbucks encourages people to come in and hang out. It is company policy.

Second, go into any Starbucks and look around. There are always people on their computers with no drinks on the table and I’ve seen people walk into many Starbucks and sit down without ordering and without being hassled.

Third, if you don’t know where Rittenhouse Square is or more importantly what it is, then your comments are off base. It is one of the gems of Philadelphia (frankly, it’s Philly so consider that point). Some of the most exclusive and high priced homes in Philly are in this area.

These two were treated this way simply for being two black men in the wrong neighborhood. If you don’t get that, you need to get out of your white neighborhood and wake up to the double standard and profiling of minorities that still exists in our country.

Two classy dudes.

It's probably the same everywhere in the US, but in AZ a property owner or manager can ask anyone (even a paying customer) to leave and doesn't have to give a reason. If you're asked to leave and refuse, that's trespassing. If they call the cops, the cops might give you one more shot to leave on your own, but they don't have to. If they tell you to leave and you refuse, you are 100% getting a trespassing cite. I don't recall seeing these signs back east, but out west a lot of businesses have signs by the door that read, "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone." I know that doesn't really have the force of law or mean that they can deny service on the basis of a protected class. But everyone should know what constitutes trespassing and not be surprised when the cops enforce it.

So Starbucks is now a public place where anyone can go in and use the restroom without buying anything?

I don't think so.

I'm so sick of the race card. And white boys extolling its use.

Wrong. Their spokesman says they have no such policy and leave it up to individual stores. Further, the store in Philadelphia does not allow the public to use the restroom unless they purchase something.

pretty smart for hippie musician

classy dudes, funny

Is anyone able to demonstrate that race was the driving factor, rather than the things clearly evident precipitated it?

And I’m so sick of white boys denying that there is a double standard and using the “race card” as their defense.

And to your point, the CEO Kevin Johnson disagreed with this as it goes against their belief that 'Starbucks was built around the concept of a third place where we create a warm and welcoming environment for all customers. What I do know is that did not happen in this instance. And that is what we're focused on.'

If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem when it comes to a fair and equal society.

From a local police officer:

Dear leftist White people. STOP TELLING ME TO KNOW MY HISTORY!!! DAMN!!

So I’m in this discussion about police encounters. Once again, I bring facts, my knowledge of the law, and my experience; not my emotions into the conversation to help fill in the blanks for some folks.

So this guy we will call Captain McF🤬🤬tard jumps on the thread and starts accusing me of not knowing my history as a Black man because I did not agree that an incident was racist.

I ignore him at first. As the convo continued, he interjected again stating some bs about a man who doesn’t know his slave history is doomed to repeat it.

It was the final straw. First because we weren’t even talking about slavery, second it just felt kinda racist of him putting me in a box.

So I responded as follows:

“Listen Captain. I don’t think you realize how racist you sound. I think I know more about my history than you do.

You clearly know me as a perpetual slave. But prior to that on my Dads side of the family, I discovered I am Nigerian. These men were masters of metal work. Master hunters and gatherers and fiercely independent.

On my mothers side, I am from The Congo . My Congo ancestors were a dominant kingdom between the 14th and 19th Century.

So I come from men of steel and power. I don’t need you telling me which aspect of history to be inspired from.

The truth is Cap... YOU want to be my master. You want me to think like you. You want to tell me how to be black. And if I rebel, your whips and nooses are your labels and branding of Black folks who refuse to remain slaves in the mind. Even worse you have conditioned them to attack Black people like me who decide to use logic and reason, instead of your prescribed narrative for my life. You are the worst kind of racist because you show up pretending to be my friend.

But you only want to use my experience to further your ideals that in the end never benefits me anyway.

I don’t fear the kkk. They are easy to spot and too dumb to even concern myself with.

But your kind of racism is the most dangerous to me and my people. It’s the kinds that made welfare our fathers in the 70s. I’m sure you don’t pat your kids in the head and tell them they are victims. But you sure want me to tell mine they are.

You need me chained up in a constant state of victimhood and mediocrity.

Sorry. You can fool weak minded folks who are stuck in one aspect of their history. But I am aware of a past far before slavery. And am living free mind, body, and soul long after.

Go chain up another Brother with your bull ****.... Massa’ Cap’.

I’m free my friend.”

Was I too hard on him?

Are they all corp. owned or franchise? If they are franchised , then I suggest you spend your hard earned money, go out and buy one so everyone can just hang out there to exercise their corp. policy. I don't see any thing racist going on there. Just a manager throwing our two men because they were just taking up space and not spending anemone. I know racism exist in America. I still think its BS they pull the race card. All they had to do was "Hey, we will get a coupe cups of coffee" and be done with it. Why fight when 5 bucks will make everything go away? Hey, I aint no white boy just so you know (think like one and do what's right each and everytime)

Oh bite me. Maybe you missed that fact that these people weren't customers so the CEOs words (aka save my company's ass corporate speak) don't apply. And two non customers refusing to leave a retail establishment when asked isn't racism. It's not even in the same ball park.

Your views embody the real racism- the subtle bigotry of low expectations so often expressed by whites with a guilt complex. We can't ask them to leave- they're black......

You feel that bad about it start your own business and open your offices to the public. Be sure not to ask anyone to leave when they just want to come in, hang out, use the loo, etc. For God's sake don't ask them to buy anything- especially if they're black. By your standards they probably couldn't afford to anyway, right?

Mr Reid, respectfully, this is not what transpired at all.

This particular coffee shop has had problems and has facilities for their paying customers. These guys claim they were waiting for someone, fine, buy some overpriced, burnt coffee to drink while you wait. You don't want to buy anything? Why don't you wait for them out front, please, I don't want to have to call the cops. Call the cops, we are not going anywhere.

I have asked people to leave my business before, belligerent patient. I did not ask nicely.

Again, acknowledging the facility has had problems in the past was there any common component?

And their "claim" that they were waiting for someone was validated when that someone actually showed up and is on tape asking the Police WTF?

Maybe they did not purchase anything at the moment because they were being polite and were waiting for their friend to arrive.

I know when I make a lunch or dinner date with friends and show up early or they are running late I sure don't just order anyway, I wait till they get there.

It's what well mannered people do.

Not only were they not customers but they brought in their own water bottles. They absolutely should have been asked to leave.

And why no focus on them? They are asked to leave by the manager, then the police, and nothing. What is their agenda here? In polite society if the man or the owner asks you to leave you do it. There is no trump card to be played. So they got what was coming to them and likely what they wanted anyway.

What's next, bring in your own food and beverage and just use their A/C and restrooms? For FREE?

This is much to do about nothing.

Oh please. In a coffee shop? Any well mannered person would tell the proprietor, upon arrival, that they intend to order when their friends arrive. But they didn't do that did they?? They refused to order anything and refused to leave when asked. That's not just a long way from good manners- it's downright rude. It's also trespassing.

oh please, there is no wait staff in a Starbucks.

You really think someone who intended to order but was waiting for the rest of their party would walk up to the counter and tell them that?

Literally no one would do that, including yourself.

Well, in an inner-city Starbucks, where you have to get a key to the bathroom from the front counter, you may have to show a receipt or explain that you're going to be a customer as soon as your other party arrives. I've seen this in some Starbucks in big cities, but not too often.

I wouldn't normally in a Starbucks- unless I was asked to leave. But I sure would in a restaurant. I'm gathering you don't because you're so well mannered. Just plop, wait, maybe use the bathroom and refuse to order or leave when asked.

Our local McDonalds does it. And so do a heck of lot of gas stations.

As a society we waste an inordinate amount of time on the trivial: There is no organized, institutional racism in the United States.

Zero, none, less than none. I would and could argue that we as a society have gone to extraordinary efforts to ensure that that is the case. I then would and could point out that many of our efforts have been misplaced and occasioned more harm than good in the cause we were trying to fix.

My Spanish relatives laugh at the efforts of the Anglo's trying to make themselves feel better about themselves by denigrating their own heritage. Who does that?

Human nature is tribal and small; mean, nasty, brutish and short.

You are going to strain your rationalization muscles there bro.

If they were polite or well mannered, they would have been less rude.

Well that certainly does not mean there is no racism in this country, Zero, none, less than none.

As much as people want to deny, think, believe that it's not a rampant issue the reality is, it is a huge problem in this country.

That it's not highly organized makes it worse, not better.

Note I clarified organized.

Because organized racism most certainly exists.

They tend to march around with Tiki torches or wearing robes.

But I'm sure some of them are fine people.

Oh, and the Feds have been aware of efforts to institutionalize it as well.

To assume they have not had some level of success is burying one's head in the sand.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/fbi-white-supremacists-in-law-enforcement

So, it's a bit more than zero.

Like I said on Page One.......impossible to analyze situation accurately without transcript or audio of what was said - and by whom - in what sequence - and in what tone.

Give me all that and I will make a ruling. :)

Of course racism exists, it is simply a function of human nature.

I can't ever begin to tell you how many times I was called "Larry Bird" (and not in a good way) playing basketball for decades...threatened as well.

Try dating black women as a white looking man in South Carolina in 1975. You probably have an idea.

But to think that there is a corporate policy anywhere in the US where swooshing minorities out of their corporate retail establishments, targeting them, is simply ridiculous.

Get over human nature.

Bingo. Until then some people assume racism. When there's no actual proof of that whatsoever. But it suits their political agenda.

You wouldn't ever in a Starbucks.

What about THEM, those two specific individuals in this situation prompted them to be asked to leave?

We acknowledge the store has had "problems" in the past which we can assume resulted in people being asked to leave.

The question is, is there any common thread and if so, what is it?

Maybe, maybe not.

should we really care anymore...

No one has said that is or was the case.

In this specific situation it's somewhat of a head scratcher because everything about Starbucks is contrary to the circumstances that we know about the event.

Last Starbucks I was in Northampton MA was spit roughly 50/50 between paying and non paying customers with what appeared to be a significant number of local vagrants, some who were paying and some who were not.

I needed someplace to work for a few hours so saw a lot of the traffic, and yes, I bought something because I also needed to pee.

My experience in every Starbucks to date has left me with the impression that coming n and hanging out even without purchasing is a thing of theirs.

Usually with less vagrants though.

I guess that's location dependent.

Or, we can assume no racism. When there's no actual proof of THAT either. I guess that suits some other agendas.

I'm not assuming anything but I highly doubt race had anything to with it. That Starbucks gets some very high ratings and is noted for its friendly staff. And those guys, clearly, refused to leave when asked. That's trespassing pure and simple. They could have saved everyone a lot of trouble by (as noted) ordering some damn coffee. But they pulled the race card instead. I don't buy that as they were in the wrong. When you don't buy something and the proprietor asks you to leave you leave- no matter what color you are. That's what well mannered people do.

Excusing this behavior doesn't help black people. It hurts them.