The Black men arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks last month have reached a settlement with the city for $1 each that includes a $200,000 commitment for a youth entrepreneurship program, according to a report.
“I am pleased to have resolved the potential claims against the city in this productive manner,” Mayor Jim Kenney told the Associated Press. “This was an incident that evoked a lot of pain in our city and put us under a national spotlight for unwanted reasons.”
Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were cuffed at the coffee house last month after they refused to leave without ordering anything.
The men were waiting for a friend to show up to a scheduled business meeting at the cafe when a restaurant manager called police.
Starbucks announced it had reached a separate settlement with the men Wednesday, that included a confidential financial settlement, but declined to say whether it would donate to the entrepreneurship fund.
The pair’s April 12 arrest set off national protests over racial profiling.
Mayor Kenney said Nelson and Robinson wanted to collaborate with the city to “make something positive come of this.”
The entrepreneurship program will be open to Philadelphia public high school students.
“We thought long and hard about it and we feel like this is the best way to see that change that we want to see,” Robinson said, the Associated Press reported. “It’s not a right-now thing that’s good for right now, but I feel like we will see the true change over time,” he said.
Starbucks’ agreement with the pair includes an undisclosed financial settlement and “continued listening and dialogue between the parties and specific action and opportunity.”
“I want to thank Donte and Rashon for their willingness to reconcile,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. “I welcome the opportunity to begin a relationship with them to share learnings and experiences.”
Robinson and Nelson will share input with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, based on their personal experiences, to contribute to the company’s diversity efforts.
Starbucks will provide both men with full tuition coverage to complete their undergraduate degrees through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan in partnership with Arizona State University.
A company spokesperson declined to say whether it would contribute to the city’s entrepreneurship fund.