State Sues Starbucks Over Policies Promoting ‘Discrimination’

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has sued Starbucks over its diversity policies, saying the company made hiring and promotion decisions based on race in violation of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

The complaint filed Tuesday said that the coffeehouse giant launched a diversity, equity and inclusion program in 2020 to retain and promote BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of Color] employees, including setting a goal of at least 30% minority representation at corporate levels and 40% at retail levels by 2025.

“Starbucks has decided to require outright race- and sex-based discrimination in hiring via quotas, segregate employees on unlawful bases, and single out preferred groups for additional training and employment benefits,” said the 59-page lawsuit.

Starting in 2021, the company also tied executive compensation to meeting its diversity goals, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

“As Attorney General, I have a moral and legal obligation to protect Missourians from a company that actively engages in systemic race and sex discrimination,” said Mr. Bailey in a statement. “Racism has no place in Missouri. We’re filing suit to halt this blatant violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act in its tracks.” (Read more from “State Sues Starbucks Over Policies Promoting ‘Discrimination’” HERE)

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