On Tuesday, Starbucks announced that it will close down all 8,000 of its US stores on May 29 to provide “racial-bias education” to employees, after two black men were arrested at a Philadelphia location when the store manager called the police. 

The company’s announcement was met online with equal parts derision and accolade, with some Twitter users saying the training was not enough and others praising Starbucks for its openness to implement change. 

 "The company's founding values are based on humanity and inclusion," executive chairman Howard Schultz said in a statement. "We will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer."

Instances of discrimination against people of color are not uncommon in the US — and more than six in 10 Americans believe the US “needs to continue making changes to give blacks equal rights with whites.” 

Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, and reduced inequalities is goal number 10. You can join us and take action here. 

Read More: Starbucks Just Promised $10 Million to Invent a Fully Recyclable Coffee Cup

Starbucks, for its part, has made efforts to increase inclusion in its stores across the country. It  has held job fairs for refugees, promised to ensure pay equality for women, and opened a store that hires deaf baristas.   

Now, it has the chance to make changes that will create a safer space for people of color. And maybe these eight tweets will give them a sense of how to do this: 

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8 Powerful Reactions to Starbucks’ Decision to Close Its Stores for Racial Bias Training

By Phineas Rueckert