Starbucks Closing Stores May 29 for Diversity Training, Adds Data Capture to WiFi [VIDEO]

Starbucks is making changes to its organization. The company announced that it is closing 8,000 of its United States stores on May 29 for a special racial bias diversity training for employees. Starbucks made headlines in April following a viral video showing an arrest of two African American patrons who were not causing a disturbance at a Philadelphia Starbucks. In the wake of store protests and a public outcry, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson issued an apology and promised to investigate and do better in terms of diversity and racial profiling.

“What happened to those two gentleman was wrong,” Johnson said during an interview with Good Morning America. “Starbucks was a company that was built with a warm welcoming environment for all customers.”

Johnson visited the location in the days following the incident. According to the Philadelphia Enquirer, the store manager that called 911 to request police, is no longer working at the Philadelphia store.

” On 5/29, we’ll close US company-owned stores to conduct racial-bias training to address implicit bias & prevent discrimination. We’re taking a hard look at who we are as a company. We’re ashamed and recognize that racial bias is a problem we must address,” The company said in a statement.

Prior to the disturbance in the Philadelphia location, Starbucks added data capture to its free WiFi to keep track of customers visiting its locations in New York City. The login, which previously had just a quick agreement to services, now includes a form to fill out a mandatory name and email address. Get more details about the store closing at Starbucks.com

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FULL INTERVIEW: "I personally apologize…" Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson one-on-one with @RobinRoberts in his first interview after two black men were handcuffed at a Philadelphia store.

FULL STORY: https://t.co/4CL5j2lPL7 pic.twitter.com/AVnguPqAxa

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 16, 2018