Two black men arrested at Philly Starbucks for trespassing

[Chillfolks]

I've been asked to buy something or leave before and as white as they come.

I suspect the reaction to being asked to purchase something or leave prompted the cops being called.

 

[ecofarm]

I feel the same way when I'm at the grocery store paying cash for my stuff and the person in front of me just used an EBT card

And then they got into their free Cadillac, right?

 

[OlNate]

Sounds fun lol. I just know exactly what I want to order now.



Maybe I should do that today. Go to Starbucks, sit there, and see what happens.

ha...you should...would be a timely experiment. Take your phone and upload the results to youtube, tag the original incident, you'll go viral and make a few bucks, so you can actually afford the coffee there... haha

 

[OlNate]

I've been asked to buy something or leave before and as white as they come.

I suspect the reaction to being asked to purchase something or leave prompted the cops being called.

At a Starbucks?

 

[NonoBadDog]

It looks like two black men wanted to use the restroom at Starbucks and were denied because they weren't purchasing anything. They then sat down and were asked to leave since they weren't making a purchase and they refused. The police were called and asked the men to leave and they again refused, so the police arrested them. Now there's a public outcry of racism, but what if that particular Starbucks has a problem with people loitering or conducting business without making purchases and they're taking up valuable space that could be used for paying customers, wouldn't that be a problem? Wouldn't if be fair to expect someone to purchase something when using their establishment?

Philly's mayor, defending the two black men, says that Starbucks is "not just a place to buy a cup of coffee, but a place to meet up with friends or family members, or to get some work done", but is it really up to the mayor to assume that Starbucks should provide an office or hang out place free of charge or purchases? Maybe the mayors office and home could be a place for the public to meet up with friends and get some work done? And is it really impossible to see that two white guys could be asked to leave as well under the same circumstances?

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo...-on-controversial-arrest-of-2-black-men-in-ph

What do you think?

The business owns or leases the property. This Starbucks is in a pretty liberal city. The article didn't mention any past issues with minorities. If the store is a busy store I could see why they wouldn't want non paying customers loitering. The mayor is playing the situation for attention. I think the situation is being blown out of proportion.

I wouldn't ever be caught in a Starbucks. The people are usually snooty. Snooty people suck.

 

[OlNate]

The Starbucks people should have let them use the bathroom and shut up about it. I hate the "restroom for paying customers only" crap. When you gotta go, you gotta go; can't exactly piss on the sidewalk, in public. That's a bad idea for several reasons.

Oh, Ap, that's absolutely the most ridiculous, partisan, right wing nonsense I have ever heard in my...oh wait, I agree with you this time... hehe

 

[AliHajiSheik]

The mayor is an idiot.

Most places anti-loitering policies.
It is different if you are meeting friends and they bought coffee.

Coming in and not ordering anything and taking up space from paying customers is rude no matter what color you are.
The thing is the business asked them to leave if they were not going to order something. They refused.
Nope I would ask two white guys to leave as well.

The mayor is an idiot, but not this time.

 

[Nilly]

Nope.There is white, right and wrong. You could be whright but you are just plain whrong....:lamo

You also have been lucky, there is no right that you are to be granted privilige to use a business' space for free, no matter what your color. To make every concocted offense about race has become so banal that most take to opposing it just based on the annoyance factor.

A useful hobby would be way more productive for all the whinning cynics out their over crying woof woof in your wildernesses, life is ruff ruff all over. :lamo :2wave:

You're absolutely correct! There is no such right! BUT when white person people are granted that privilege over and over again whilst black people are not, there is a systemic inequality, even if it concerns privileges rather than rights.

Hence that little term you may have heard once or twice over the years 'white privilege'.

 

[apdst]

Oh, Ap, that's absolutely the most ridiculous, partisan, right wing nonsense I have ever heard in my...oh wait, I agree with you this time... hehe

You can't be wrong all the time.

 

[apdst]

You're absolutely correct! There is no such right! BUT when white person people are granted that privilege over and over again whilst black people are not, there is a systemic inequality, even if it concerns privileges rather than rights.

Hence that little term you may have heard once or twice over the years 'white privilege'.

The Starbucks in Philadelphia is the headquarters for flaming racism? Yeah, I doubt that.

 

[Gondwanaland]

I've never had any problem using a restroom without buying something. White privilege, I imagine.

i've run into that issue of being told I had to buy something before I could use the restroom (even at places I'd already planned on buying something but really had to piss like a racehorse). But then I'm of Indian (the subcontinent, not the misnamed-by-Columbus variety) descent. Indeed, I've even been to gas stations where I've been informed by the clerk that the bathroom was closed, only for one of my white friends to go in after filling up the gas tank and magically and mysteriously it somehow was no longer out of order when he asked mere minutes later......

 

[Chillfolks]

The Starbucks people should have let them use the bathroom and shut up about it. I hate the "restroom for paying customers only" crap. When you gotta go, you gotta go; can't exactly piss on the sidewalk, in public. That's a bad idea for several reasons.

More and more restaurants are denying restroom use to non paying customers because of the opioid epidemic. Me nephew works at a fast food joint who has had to call paramedics three times so far in 2018 for overdosing unresponsive victims. They recently put up paying customers only restroom signs.

 

[calamity]

i've run into that issue of being told I had to buy something before I could use the restroom (even at places I'd already planned on buying something but really had to piss like a racehorse). But then I'm of Indian (the subcontinent, not the misnamed-by-Columbus variety) descent. Indeed, I've even been to gas stations where I've been informed by the clerk that the bathroom was closed, only for one of my white friends to go in after filling up the gas tank and magically and mysteriously it somehow was no longer out of order when he asked mere minutes later......

I am not surprised to hear that.

 

[Risky Thicket]

I try to avoid Starbucks to be with. Their coffee doesn't rock me. I try to buy local on most things. I love coffee.

Having frequented many coffee places sometimes alone, often for an informal meeting, and sometimes at Starbucks when the location isn't my choice, I have NEVER been asked to buy or leave and I've never seen it happen to anyone else.

What is truly bad about the Starbucks story is that most all of us believe the story as reported is entirely possible in America in 2018.

 

[Bum]

Sounds fun lol. I just know exactly what I want to order now.



Maybe I should do that today. Go to Starbucks, sit there, and see what happens.

Or, speak and order entirely in Italian. :mrgreen:

 

[Chillfolks]

At a Starbucks?

Starbucks specifically no, although I've never actually been to a Starbucks. Yes I've been asked to purchase or leave from a coffee shop before.

 

[apdst]

More and more restaurants are denying restroom use to non paying customers because of the opioid epidemic. Me nephew works at a fast food joint who has had to call paramedics three times so far in 2018 for overdosing unresponsive victims. They recently put up paying customers only restroom signs.

I see those sometimes and I ignore them, especially if I have to drop a deuce.

 

[Tanngrisnir]

they're taking up valuable space that could be used for paying customers, wouldn't that be a problem? Wouldn't if be fair to expect someone to purchase something when using their establishment?
I feel the same way when I'm at the grocery store paying cash for my stuff and the person in front of me just used an EBT card

Why? The two scenarios aren't even remotely rationally comparable?

 

[holbritter]

It looks like two black men wanted to use the restroom at Starbucks and were denied because they weren't purchasing anything. They then sat down and were asked to leave since they weren't making a purchase and they refused. The police were called and asked the men to leave and they again refused, so the police arrested them. Now there's a public outcry of racism, but what if that particular Starbucks has a problem with people loitering or conducting business without making purchases and they're taking up valuable space that could be used for paying customers, wouldn't that be a problem? Wouldn't if be fair to expect someone to purchase something when using their establishment?

Philly's mayor, defending the two black men, says that Starbucks is "not just a place to buy a cup of coffee, but a place to meet up with friends or family members, or to get some work done", but is it really up to the mayor to assume that Starbucks should provide an office or hang out place free of charge or purchases? Maybe the mayors office and home could be a place for the public to meet up with friends and get some work done? And is it really impossible to see that two white guys could be asked to leave as well under the same circumstances?

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo...-on-controversial-arrest-of-2-black-men-in-ph

What do you think?

There are many places in NYC where you can't use the restroom unless you're a customer. I've been refused. And no, just sitting there doesn't make you a customer. Hang out in a park.

 

[holbritter]

Not being a Starbucks guy, I'm a little ignorant of the Starbucks etiquette, in fact I find the whole thing a bit intimidating, and I can never figure out how to order an extra large without being looked down on by a snobby brewista for not saying "Venti"...hehe...so I took this story at face value and initially thought "No, that's not right, you shouldn't be able to loiter in a place of business, no matter who you are".

But, in reading the comment from your linked article, which states ""All the other white ppl are wondering why it’s never happened to us when we do the same thing.", I'm left thinking that if waiting around for friends is something that happens, and if there is a gap between how white people are treated and black people are treated in this location, then they should be on the hook for explaining why, or apologizing, which Starbucks has done.

Can any hardcore Starbucks fans comment on how the store they frequent handles this kind of scenario, where people are waiting for others to join them?

Depends where it is. I've been refused to use the restroom at Starbucks in NYC unless I was a customer. I went into a Chipolte and the only way to get in the bathroom was to use the number on your receipt as a code. Just the way it is. People trashing the bathrooms or just hanging out causing problems have ruined it for everyone else.

 

[holbritter]

I've never had any problem using a restroom without buying something. White privilege, I imagine.

You imagine wrong.

 

[ecofarm]

Why? The two scenarios aren't even remotely rationally comparable?

What? Black people.




haha

 

[Risky Thicket]

An unrelated comment regarding Starbucks and their no apologies promotion of coffee-like drinks to promote world fatassedness.

I drink coffee black. I realize now that in Starbucks that may be dangerous. Imagine the fear of being overheard saying black in a Starbucks. Your simple use of that word alone could trigger a SWAT team with instant tasing and body cavity searches of black patrons quietly sitting at tables like everyone else.

As for me, the only people who should be arrested in Starbucks are those people who waddle in line to order a large mocha loca with extra whipped cream and a cherry. I'm serious! Starbucks really isn't about coffee. It's about unique ways of consuming diabetic amounts of sugar.

I have seen relatively few people who just get coffee or coffee and cream. In fact, if you are in somewhat of a hurry in the morning and you just want coffee, don't even think about Starbucks. There will be a massive line of people ordering and waiting for exotic drinks involving buckets of flavored syrup, flavored cream, whipped cream, fruit, powdered nuts, special kinds of milk, sprinkles and maybe an ounce of coffee - usually decaf. Wait behind five of those people when you want to order a large black coffee and see how long it takes.

Once a friend at work heard me say I had a meeting at Starbucks. She asked me if I would please bring her a coffee after my meeting. She asked me to bring her a medium (I always get those coffee sizes wrong too. Vidi, veni, vici, I get 'em confused) decaf coffee with one low fat dairy creamer packet, sugar free hazelnut syrup and two packets of Sweet & Low.

"Why don't I bring you back a medium cup of hot water? What would be the difference?"

See? America is all too willing to put up with all that bull**** in a "coffeeshop", but let two black people sit and wait on a friend? No way, America will drop a dime on those two in a hot minute. :2no4:

 

[ecofarm]

You imagine wrong.

I always get a smile and a cordial remark. Never been told no, never been told get out and sure a hell never been arrested. On an airplane, during ascent, seat-belt sign on, "I gotta go", "no problem, sir". If a white person's gotta piss, everyone gets out of the way and says 'thank you'.

 

[dcsports]

Yeah, I embarassed the **** outta myself the first time I went to Starbucks.

Don't be. The Small-Medium-Large system they have is stupid. Call it what it is. Embarrass them.