Starbucks’ Epic Response to Trump’s Executive Order
Editor-in-Chief, Think Progress
Donald Trump’s executive order, which blocked all citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations and refugees from any nation from entering the United States, has drawn widespread criticism from the corporate world.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called Trump’s order “unAmerican” and said it would “make America less safe (through hatred and loss of allies) rather than more safe.” Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield called Trump’s actions “gratuitously evil.” EBay CEO Devin Wenig said the executive order “fundamentally contradicts our company’s values and America’s values.”
Starbucks, however, is taking things a step further.
In an open letter, CEO Howard Schultz announced that, in response to Trump, Starbucks would hire 10,000 refugees.
We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world. This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination. There are more than 65 million citizens of the world recognized as refugees by the United Nations, and we are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business. And we will start this effort here in the U.S. by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support.
Airbnb also announced a bold move, promising to provide free housing to “refugees and anyone not allowed in the U.S.”
On Sunday, Nike sent a letter to all employees blasting Trump’s executive order. Nike athlete and four-time Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah is concerned he will be targeted by Trump’s new policy.
Farah was born in Somalia, one of the countries impact by Trump’s ban. He is a British citizen now and is currently training in Ethiopia. (Dual citizens are not exempted from Trump’s order.) He is scheduled to return to Portland in March.
“Nike stands together against bigotry,” Nike CEO Mark Parker wrote.
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This was reposted from Think Progress.
