The video, posted to Twitter by a woman sitting in the shop, shows police speaking to — and then arresting — two black men that the woman says were simply sitting in the Starbucks waiting for a third member of their party before ordering coffee.
The woman, author Melissa DePino, told media that both men were sitting at a table for less than 15 minutes before store employees called the cops. Both men left the store peacefully, but in handcuffs. Their friend, DePino reported, showed up around the same time the police did.
The men were finally released from custody hours later, according to DePino, who added that the pair were real estate brokers who were there for a friendly meeting. DePino says there is no more to the story, even though, she says, a number of people have asked to elaborate on how the men were dressed, and how they were acting, on the presumption that two black men could not have been arrested for simply sitting in a Starbucks.
Starbucks CEO Forced To Apologize After Two Innocent Men Arrested In Philly Store
The woman, author Melissa DePino, told media that both men were sitting at a table for less than 15 minutes before store employees called the cops. Both men left the store peacefully, but in handcuffs. Their friend, DePino reported, showed up around the same time the police did.
@Starbucks The police were called because these men hadn’t ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing. All the other white ppl are wondering why it’s never happened to us when we do the same thing. pic.twitter.com/0U4Pzs55Ci
— Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 12, 2018
— Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 12, 2018
The men were finally released from custody hours later, according to DePino, who added that the pair were real estate brokers who were there for a friendly meeting. DePino says there is no more to the story, even though, she says, a number of people have asked to elaborate on how the men were dressed, and how they were acting, on the presumption that two black men could not have been arrested for simply sitting in a Starbucks.
Starbucks CEO Forced To Apologize After Two Innocent Men Arrested In Philly Store