Starbucks' Howard Schultz Compared What's Going On In The U.S. Today To Nazi Germany
Quarterly partner forums are nothing new at Starbucks, but this quarter's meeting had a markedly more somber tone than most, as a small rock from the Auschwitz concentration camp was passed around the room.
Executive chairman and former CEO Howard Schultz brought the rock back from Auschwitz 17 years ago, and took it to the meeting as a reminder of "unchecked hate."
During the forum, called 'Hate has no home here,' Schultz and more than 1,500 Starbucks partners reflected on the acts of violence and terrorism in Charlottesville this weekend and the empowerment of white supremacists happening in America.
According to a post from the Starbucks newsroom, partner Amit Bhatia said during the meeting that the rock "represented the blood of millions who fell victim to something very similar to what we are facing now."
Schultz opened the meeting by condemning the acts of violence and expressing his fear for what the current political climate will mean for future generations.
"I know we're better than this. The bigotry, hatred, and senseless violence against people who are not white cannot stand.”
-Howard Schultz pic.twitter.com/JWpOmIV0H0- Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) August 16, 2017
"I come to you as an American, as a Jew, as a parent, as a grandparent, as an almost 40-year partner of this company," Schultz said. "I come to you with profound, profound concern about the lack of character, morality, humanity and what this might mean for young children and young generations that are growing up at a time in which we are imprinting them with levels of behaviors and conduct that are beneath the United States of America."
He contrasted the brazen protesters in Charlottesville to the KKK, who covered their faces "because they were afraid to be outed," he said. "People are no longer afraid."
The rock is an especially poignant symbol given the anti-Semitic phrases chanted at the Unite the Right rally in Virginia, including "Blood and soil," a slogan used by Nazis in World War II, and "Jews will not replace us."
Schultz also expressed his hope and optimism that "the true promise of America" will be upheld, and encouraged Starbucks' partners to maintain their faith in the country too.
"It is hard in the midst of such a storm to maintain an optimistic view," Schultz said. "But I raise my hand, and I say I am optimistic about our country and the true promise of America."
You can hear more of Schultz's remarks in the video taken at the forum below.
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