The two black men arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks have reached a settlement. They will receive a symbolic $1 each, and city officials have promised to create a $200,000 entrepreneur program for local high school students.
Mayor Jim Kenney and the men's lawyer announced the news to The Associated Press Wednesday.
“We thought long and hard about it and we feel like this is the best way to see that change that we want to see,” said Donte Robinson, one of those arrested. “It’s not a right-now thing that’s good for right now, but I feel like we will see the true change over time.”
Earlier this month, the coffee chain came under fire after a video showed Rashon Nelson and Robinson being handcuffed and escorted out of a Philadelphia location for “trespassing,” according to local authorities. However, many across the country accused the company of racially profiling the individuals.
» RELATED: Starbucks employee who called cops on black men has left the company
Amid the national outrage, #BoycottStarbucks became a trending topic online as many customers vowed to no longer support the brand. Additionally, Starbucks issued an apology and its CEO Kevin Johnson met with Nelson and Robinson.
The corporation also said it would close all of its stores the afternoon of May 29 so all employees can undergo racial bias education. The sessions will be led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt and other leaders.
“While this is not limited to Starbucks, we’re committed to being a part of the solution,” Johnson previously said in a statement. “Closing our stores for racial bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities.”
» RELATED: Starbucks will close all stores for a day for racial-bias education
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