Starbucks faces backlash in response to refugee hiring plan

Starbucks this week is facing boycott calls after CEO Howard Schultz said the organization would work to hire 10,00 refugees around the world.

The announcement came in the wake of President Trump’s executive order that denies entry into the U.S. to refugees and citizens of seven Muslim countries.

Schultz wasn’t alone in his opposition to Trump’s immigration ban. He and several tech industry leaders sought to reassure their employees that they do not support the ban and—as is the case with fellow Seattle companies Microsoft and Amazon—would actively fight it.

"We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question," Schultz wrote in a letter to Starbucks employees.

While Schultz was clear that his plan was to hire refugees around the world, many interpreted his remarks to be anti-American and urged him instead—in that unique way that social media users love—to hire Americans, particularly American veterans.

#starbucks Why don't you hire the vets instead of refugees who might really ruin your business? #BoycottStarbucks

— Marilynn Randall (@emjayr1942) January 30, 2017

#BoycottStarbucks
We put Trump in the White House
We can Put Starbucks out of business
They want to hire refugees over Americans go 4 it!

— Sandy (@sandra8301) January 30, 2017

Starbucks pledged to hire 10,000 refugees over the next 5 years.

We currently have 50,000 homeless veterans in the US.#BoycottStarbucks

— Educating Liberals (@Education4Libs) January 30, 2017

It should be noted that Starbucks has had a program in place since 2014 that focuses on hiring veterans and their families. The program has helped 8,000 veterans and military spouses gain employment in that time.

On the other side of the discourse, many Starbucks devotees are excited by the prospect of shorter lines:

Shoutout to #BoycottStarbucks so I know when I get my quad shot caramel macchiato I won't have to wait on a long line full of racists 😎 😂

— Robbery Jones (@Donthatedaswag) January 30, 2017

Pretty excited to #DrinkStarbucks now that #BoycottStarbucks is happening.

😊 Shorter lines!
😊 Fewer angry racists!
😊 Jobs for refugees!

— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) January 30, 2017

oh thank god conservatives are gonna #BoycottStarbucks. the line at the one by my work gets ridiculous. nice to trim the fat.

— abdul 🚀 (@Advil) January 30, 2017

Still others saw Schultz’ commitment as a reason to patronize the organization’s nearly 25,000 coffee shops.

Starbucks has weathered boycotts in the past, but this is the first since Trump took office.

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