Sorry, basic ladies of America: according to one feminist group, your pumpkin spice latte habit from Starbucks is "funding rent payments to white supremacy." The group UltraViolet, which describes itself as "a powerful and rapidly growing community of people mobilized to fight sexism and create a more inclusive world," made the claim on Twitter and encouraged people to sign a petition. According to the site, more than 70,000 "actions" have been taken against Starbucks.
That favorite fall ?? drink of yours is funding rent payments to white supremacy. https://t.co/Y8Qw0ZEB8v
— UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) September 5, 2017
While accusing anyone of funding white supremacy is a shocking claim, especially given that Starbucks is a fairly progressive company that has supported every cause under the sun from gay rights to improving race relations, what UltraViolet actually means by this allegation is that there's a Starbucks location in Trump Tower in New York City. Yep.
Even UltraViolet's own supporters were quick to call them out for this bizarre claim, saying that the Starbucks located in Trump Tower is a franchise location, not a corporate store. One woman called the claim "slightly slanderous."
Ok I can't stand the bigoted orange buffoon and hate everything about him, but this is ridiculous and honestly slightly slanderous.
— H Thomas (@Person_Posting) September 8, 2017
It actually is definitely franchised!!!!!!! Thank you for pointing this out!!!
— Hannah (@HannahSwirtz) September 10, 2017
That's a baited statement. Just because they pay rent in Trump tower is a weak at best. If you want to race bait, pick something logical.
— Kik Rox (@tazamo1) September 7, 2017
Which, of course, it is slightly slanderous. Starbucks is not a racist company, and having a franchised location in a major building in a major city is not an act of white supremacy. While there are perfectly legitimate concerns regarding some of the actions taken by the Trump Administration, it weakens their cause to start accusing everything of racism when there's none to be had.