News Men arrested at Starbucks say they feared for their lives

[brassmonkey]

lawsuit filed!


A few minutes later, they hardly noticed when the police walked into the coffee shop — until officers started walking in their direction. "That's when we knew she called the police on us," Nelson told The Associated Press in the men's first interview since video of their April 12 arrests went viral.

Nelson and Robinson, black men who became best friends in the fourth grade, were taken in handcuffs from the Starbucks in Philadelphia's tony Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, where Robinson has been a customer since he was 15.

The video, recorded on a white customer's cellphone, galvanized people around the country who saw the exchange as modern-day racism. In the week since, the men have met with Starbucks' CEO and have started pushing for lasting changes to ensure what happened to them doesn't happen to anyone else.

"We were there for a real reason, a real deal that we were working on," Robinson explained. "We put in a lot of time, energy, effort. ... We were at a moment that could have a positive impact on a whole ladder of people, lives, families. So I was like, 'No, you're not stopping that right now.'"

Robinson said he thought about his loved ones and how the afternoon had taken such a turn as he was taken to jail. Nelson wondered if he'd make it home alive. "Anytime I'm encountered by cops, I can honestly say it's a thought that runs through my mind," Nelson said. "You never know what's going to happen."

Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney, who is white, said what happened at the Starbucks "appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018." Police Commissioner Richard Ross, who's black, said in a Facebook video that arresting officers "did absolutely nothing wrong," and added that Nelson and Robinson were disrespectful to officers.

Ross said officers did what they were supposed to do and were professional in their dealings with the men, "and instead they got the opposite back." Nelson and Robinson originally were supposed to meet Andrew Yaffe, a white local businessman, at a Starbucks across town. But the plan changed, and they agreed to meet at the Rittenhouse Square location, where they'd met several times before on a potential real estate opportunity.

The black men arrived a few minutes early. Three police officers showed up not long after. Nelson said they weren't questioned but were told to leave immediately. Yaffe showed up as the men were being handcuffed. He can be seen in the video demanding an explanation for the officers' actions. Nelson and Robinson did not resist arrest.

"When you know that you did nothing wrong, how do you really react to it?" Nelson said. "You can either be ignorant or you can show some type of sophistication and act like you have class. That was the choice we had."

It was hardly their first encounter with police, a rite of passage that becomes a regular occurrence for many black men their age. But neither had been arrested before, setting them apart from many of their peers in the gritty southwest Philadelphia neighborhood where they grew up.

Robinson briefly wondered what he might've done to bring the moment on himself. "I feel like I fell short," he explained. "I'm trying to think of something I did wrong, to put not just me but my brother, my lifelong friend ... in this situation."

Attorney Stewart Cohen, representing Nelson and Robinson, said the men were illegally profiled. He pointed to Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in hotels, restaurants, theaters and other public accommodations.

Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. has said the location where the arrests occurred has a policy that restrooms are for paying customers only. Nelson and Robinson spent hours in a jail cell with no outside contact and no sense of what would happen next. They were released after midnight, when the district attorney declined to prosecute them for trespassing. They had no idea the video of their arrests would soon make the rounds on the internet.

The day after their arrests, they thought about what to do next. "You go from being someone who's just trying to be an entrepreneur, having your own dreams and aspirations, and then this happens," Nelson said. "How do you handle it? Do you stand up? Do you fight? Do you sit down and just watch everyone else fight for you? Do you let it slide, like we let everything else slide with injustice?"

Robinson, still focused on the previous day's business deal, called Yaffe to reschedule. Yaffe told him about the video and the traction it had gotten. Over the weekend, attention and outrage over the video grew, prompting a protest at the local Starbucks restaurant and a national boycott. By Monday, the men were set to meet with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson to discuss what happened.

Johnson has responded quickly to public outcry around the arrests, calling them "reprehensible," apologizing and ordering stores closed May 29 for mandatory training to tackle unconscious bias. Nelson and Robinson said they're looking for more lasting results and are in mediation proceedings with Starbucks to implement changes, including the posting in stores of a customer bill of rights; the adoption of new policies regarding customer ejections, racial profiling and racial discrimination; and independent investigations of complaints of profiling or discrimination from customers and employees.

Robinson said he appreciates the public support the men have received but anger and boycotting Starbucks are not the solution. "We need a different type of action ... not words," he said. "It's a time to pay attention and understand what's really going on. We do want a seat at the table."

article...

[OneHungLo]

And there it is. They just hit the ghetto lottery. Total bullshit.

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

And there it is. They just hit the ghetto lottery. Total bullshit.

yeah ghetto working for a living = ghetto

[DBS.US]

The black men arrived a few minutes early. Three police officers showed up not long after.

AP's Race and Ethnicity Writer Errin Haines Whack
[email protected]
Errin Haines Whack

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

yeah ghetto working for a living = ghetto

Actually your right, I read that the 2 guys had zero record. But still, the whole thing is a farce.

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

Actually your right, I read that the 2 guys had zero record. But still, the whole thing is a farce.

You are a farce .....

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

Actually your right, I read that the 2 guys had zero record. But still, the whole thing is a farce.

You'd have more credibility if you acknowledged things for what they are. But you don't so you won't.

[Rochard]

I could never imagine being afraid of the police.

These two people that arrested - and everyone else - fail to understand why people get shot. If you turn and run from police, you risk getting shot. If you do what you are told, you don't get shot.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

You'd have more credibility if you acknowledged things for what they are. But you don't so you won't.

I do. I think they should have just ordered something. They brought themselves to the attention of the manager by asking to use the restroom. If they were sitting there and the manager walked by 4 tables of white people and approached them and asked them to buy something or leave, I'd say they had a case. All they had to do was buy something and sit down. Instead they were defiant and ignored the manager and they also were defiant to the police.


The whole thing is a farce.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I could never imagine being afraid of the police.

... If you turn and run from police, you risk getting shot. If you do what you are told, you don't get shot.

Not true if you're black. How many more videos do you need to see? The guy seatbelted in his car doing as the officer said and shot. Cop tells another guy to reach into his glove compartment to get his registration, he does, and he's shot. The list goes on... and on... and on...

[rogueteens]

scared for their lives? Why? where they being chased by a hairdresser?

[rogueteens]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Not true if you're black. How many more videos do you need to see? The guy seatbelted in his car doing as the officer said and shot. Cop tells another guy to reach into his glove compartment to get his registration, he does, and he's shot. The list goes on... and on... and on...

yeah, its never happened to a white guy has it?

[RedFred]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I could never imagine being afraid of the police.

These two people that arrested - and everyone else - fail to understand why people get shot. If you turn and run from police, you risk getting shot. If you do what you are told, you don't get shot.

Cops are fucking pricks. Not to mention not obeying a cop should not result in a fucking bullet. Just look at this asshole.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by RedFred

Cops are fucking pricks. Not to mention not obeying a cop should not result in a fucking bullet. Just look at this asshole.

Definitely a piece of shit cop. He knew his ass was toast near the end when he was basically asking the guy if he was going to complain. I’m all for them wearing cameras because it weeds out the few bad cops we have.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

Definitely a piece of shit cop. He knew his ass was toast near the end when he was basically asking the guy if he was going to complain. I’m all for them wearing cameras because it weeds out the few bad cops we have.

That cop did his job; the dude was disrespectful and assaulted the police officer.
He should have never resisted the cop.
He kept approaching the officer in a threatening way.
That dude could have had a weapon so I praise the officer for not shooting the belligerent
diver who think's he's above the law just because he works there.
That cop should get a medal and that driver should be put down like a rabid dog.
Those people always have attitude with the cops so they deserve what they get.

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I could never imagine being afraid of the police.

These two people that arrested - and everyone else - fail to understand why people get shot. If you turn and run from police, you risk getting shot. If you do what you are told, you don't get shot.

understand?? they were arrested for nothing! you don't get arrested on a trespass that has been first issued! all this is going to come out in court. i hope the cops lose their jobs without pay...

[tony286]

if you watch the long video, you can see the cops just talking to them not being agressive and if they were so afraid they just would of left. Then when you watch them leave cuffed with the cops one of them had a smile on his face. Fear my ass they are looking for a payday.

I blame Starbucks, this over the top reaction, was like saying we are guilty. Ive been in starbucks with unwashed home less people just sleeping on chairs so its bullshit.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by tony286

Ive been in starbucks with unwashed home less people just sleeping on chairs so its bullshit.

Did they get arrested?

Asking for a friend.

[GAMEFINEST]

We live in a different society now

[pornguy]

The smile on the one guys face as they walk out of starbucks tells a nice story.

Oh Wait. everyone smiles when scared for their lives.

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by pornguy

The smile on the one guys face as they walk out of starbucks tells a nice story.

Oh Wait. everyone smiles when scared for their lives.

actually people do smile when afraid. don't act fucking clueless to the facts. you trying to judge this on a damn smile bullshit.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by pornguy

The smile on the one guys face as they walk out of starbucks tells a nice story.

Oh Wait. everyone smiles when scared for their lives.

He smiled when he saw it was being caught on camera. You really are daft

[onwebcam]

[tony286]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Did they get arrested?

Asking for a friend.

Got a question for you? You own a store you ask someone to leave and they dont what do you do?
The girl asked them to buy something or leave they said no. The police asked them to leave and they didnt. So what do you do at that point?

[tony286]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

He smiled when he saw it was being caught on camera. You really are daft

I think it was a smile for time to get paid.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by tony286

Got a question for you? You own a store you ask someone to leave and they dont what do you do?
The girl asked them to buy something or leave they said no. The police asked them to leave and they didnt. So what do you do at that point?

Watch your step, Tony...you're about to have your lib card pulled and labeled a racist by your fellow libs here.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by tony286

Got a question for you? You own a store you ask someone to leave and they dont what do you do?
The girl asked them to buy something or leave they said no. The police asked them to leave and they didnt. So what do you do at that point?

Answer my question.

[tony286]

https://apple.news/AYlFb6RSpTIiXQFxA6xn6GA

[SIK]

So....
Philadelphia is 40% black people.
Event happened in a busy starbucks.
Manager is probably a person that works there for some years, correct?
Before she called 911, she probably served..
100 or more black people during the same day, before these two even walked in?

And then... we have two options on what happens:

A) they were disrespectful enough to make her call 911 (insisting on using restroom / refusing to order)

B) Serving 100 black people took it's toll on that devil racist. She decided to send the next 2 dindus she sees to jail, so she picked these two peaceful gentlemen out of fucking nowhere. KKK


Yeah.. even Sherlock Holmes would be puzzled on this one.

[tony286]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Answer my question.

No but the homeless werent asked to leave. You are asked to leave a place of business you leave. Its not your right to sit in a place of business and not spend money. The girl asked and then the cops asked multiple times, then they were arrested. They were making a statement.

[tony286]

Originally Posted by SIK

So....
Philadelphia is 40% black people.
Event happened in a busy starbucks.
Manager is probably a person that works there for some years, correct?
Before she called 911, she probably served..
100 or more black people during the same day, before these two even walked in?

And then... we have two options on what happens:

A) they were disrespectful enough to make her call 911 (insisting on using restroom / refusing to order)

B) Serving 100 black people took it's toll on that devil racist. She decided to send the next 2 dindus she sees to jail, so she picked these two peaceful gentlemen out of fucking nowhere. KKK


Yeah.. even Sherlock Holmes would be puzzled on this one.

https://apple.news/AYlFb6RSpTIiXQFxA6xn6GA

[tony286]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

Watch your step, Tony...you're about to have your lib card pulled and labeled a racist by your fellow libs here.

lol , Im not an ideologue , alot things liberals do annoy the shit out of me. I'm more of a Rockefeller republican as I get older.

This whole starbucks thing is bullshit and starbucks are cowards. I have no doubt they threw her under the bus. Its a busy store in the middle of the city, you arent running a bus station.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by tony286

No but the homeless werent asked to leave. You are asked to leave a place of business you leave. Its not your right to sit in a place of business and not spend money. The girl asked and then the cops asked multiple times, they were just arrested. They were making a statement.

Why are the homeless people allowed to stay and not asked to leave?

[SIK]

Originally Posted by tony286

https://apple.news/AYlFb6RSpTIiXQFxA6xn6GA

Haha, yeah, just watched the video in there a moment ago.
History repeats itself, black people really love discussing shit with the police.

I can tell you right away that Croatian police would have handled that much quicker and with much less words, white or black regardless

On a side note.. did anyone, ever, anywhere, said NO to the Police and got away with it?
Like, "don't touch me", and they don't touch you? Why can't a certain ethnic group realize that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH70DZKMHuQ

Fucking hilarious really.

[brassmonkey]

forget the race part... why did she ask them to leave?? if they were standing out in the front that seems ghetto. the cops had no reason to confront them. jeezus they were waiting for someone they want to do business with.

Originally Posted by SIK

So....
Philadelphia is 40% black people.
Event happened in a busy starbucks.
Manager is probably a person that works there for some years, correct?
Before she called 911, she probably served..
100 or more black people during the same day, before these two even walked in?

And then... we have two options on what happens:

A) they were disrespectful enough to make her call 911 (insisting on using restroom / refusing to order)

B) Serving 100 black people took it's toll on that devil racist. She decided to send the next 2 dindus she sees to jail, so she picked these two peaceful gentlemen out of fucking nowhere. KKK


Yeah.. even Sherlock Holmes would be puzzled on this one.

[SIK]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

forget the race part... why did she ask them to leave?? if they were standing out in the front that seems ghetto. the cops had no reason to confront them. jeezus they were waiting for someone they want to do business with.

From what I see on the LONGER video, two gentlemen were occupying TWO TABLES in the coffee shop.

Any coffee shop owner in the world will tell you that it's bad business to have people just sitting around without ordering anything (you see, if you don't react upon such things, you'll soon have a waiting room and not a coffee shop, coz people will see it's ok to chill there).

Seriously now, who the fuck says NO three times to a waitress and keeps sitting?
Don't know about you, but I'd order a fucking coffee out of sheer embarrassment if I was asked three times.

Why didn't they wait on a park bench if they don't want a coffee? There is zero logic in all of this and guess what, ZERO racism as well.

[tony286]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Why are the homeless people allowed to stay and not asked to leave?

Well it was later at night and I figure the employees there didn't give a shit.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by tony286

lol , Im not an ideologue , alot things liberals do annoy the shit out of me. I'm more of a Rockefeller republican as I get older.

This whole starbucks thing is bullshit and starbucks are cowards. I have no doubt they threw her under the bus. Its a busy store in the middle of the city, you arent running a bus station.

^^Tony this is how I imagine you after this Starbucks debacle

[tony286]

Originally Posted by SIK

From what I see on the LONGER video, two gentlemen were occupying TWO TABLES in the coffee shop.

Any coffee shop owner in the world will tell you that it's bad business to have people just sitting around without ordering anything (you see, if you don't react upon such things, you'll soon have a waiting room and not a coffee shop, coz people will see it's ok to chill there).

Seriously now, who the fuck says NO three times to a waitress and keeps sitting?
Don't know about you, but I'd order a fucking coffee out of sheer embarrassment if I was asked three times.

Why didn't they wait on a park bench if they don't want a coffee? There is zero logic in all of this and guess what, ZERO racism as well.

Thank you and I can only imagine the amount of bullshit a starbucks in the middle of a city has to deal with.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by tony286

Well it was later at night and I figure the employees there didn't give a shit.

But aren't loitering people more dangerous at night and security should remove them?

[tony286]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

^^Tony this is how I imagine you after this Starbucks debacle

lol To be honest if the right weren't so fucking nutty, I would think about it. My dad was a republican his whole life but he was never over the top.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by tony286

lol To be honest if the right weren't so fucking nutty, I would think about it. My dad was a republican his whole life but he was never over the top.

If it was 5-10 years ago i'd say you're right, but the left has just gone over the edge...they are way worse than the right. All they seem to care about is Illegals, muslims, black criminals and taking down our president.

[8pt-buck]

Is there anything blacks can't do wrong without a Nation wide protest.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by 8pt-buck

Is there anything blacks can't do wrong without a Nation wide protest.

Is there anything Trump has done wrong or illegal that he will ever be held accountable for?

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Is there anything Trump has done wrong or illegal that he will ever be held accountable for?

No lol. He hasn't. Sorry but i've noticed that whole Russian collusion nonsense has died down over the past few weeks. Are you guys finally coming to terms that Trump has done nothing wrong?

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

No lol.

..and that's your weakness!

Are you going to change nics when things get even worse for him than they are now, or stick with this one?

It seems like handling losses well isn't part of your wheelhouse

[candyflip]

Originally Posted by OneHungLo

Definitely a piece of shit cop. He knew his ass was toast near the end when he was basically asking the guy if he was going to complain. I’m all for them wearing cameras because it weeds out the few bad cops we have.

Good cops hate pieces of shit like this guy.

Rochard mentioned above not being able to imagine being afraid of the police. My wife often pics my kids up from school, in uniform. They also go to a school where they are in the minority and she often gets nasty comments and looks from parents and students. It’s something that’s being taught at a young age. These kids, at 6, 7 or 8 years old aren’t just coming to these conclusions on their own.

[HairyChick]

They need a “No loitering allowed. If you’re waiting for someone, please place your order and wait” sign. Did the manager explain that you need to order now?

I saw their interest tonight. Two well-spoken, well-behaved gentlemen who were profiled. No lawsuit is planned but protests continue. I’d boycott the store, not the chain. They may not accomplish anything but are trying to.

The cops said leave, they asked why. The manager said so. Why? No reason was given. She called police and said loitering, not causing problems or being loud. She didn’t explain policy so it looks like discrimination.

If it walks like a duck, smells like a duck, has feathers like a duck and quacks, chances are it’s a duck.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by PamWinterReturns

The cops said leave, they asked why. The manager said so. Why? No reason was given. She called police and said loitering, not causing problems or being loud. She didn’t explain policy so it looks like discrimination.

Umm no, the manager steps in at the end and explains the situation.

They were told to either buy something or leave.

They refused to leave so the cops were called.

The cops nicely asked them to leave for 6 minutes.

They refused and were arrested.

You're making it into something it's not.

[slapass]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I could never imagine being afraid of the police.

These two people that arrested - and everyone else - fail to understand why people get shot. If you turn and run from police, you risk getting shot. If you do what you are told, you don't get shot.

I live in Minneapolis. I was stopped yesterday and all I could think is he will freak out and shoot me so don’t move. They have shot three unarmed people in the last year or two. One was being a fool but the others were just blown away.