On Thursday, a manager in a Starbucks in Philadelphia reportedly called the local police because two men were sitting inside the chain without having purchased anything. The two men were removed from the premises by police, which prompted an apology from Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. A furore ensued as white people said that they had often done the same thing without anyone asking them to leave.

In a video shared on Twitter, several uniformed police officers question the two men, who it later transpired were real estate developers waiting to meet an investor. The men are arrested after refusing to leave, but offer no resistance to the arrest.

I just heard they were released at 130am last night. They are real estate brokers and were at Starbucks to meet their family friend. That’s all I have for now.

— Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 13, 2018

Milissa DePino, who posted the video of the incident on Twitter, tweeted, "The police were called because these men hadn't ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs...All the other white (people) are wondering why it's never happened to us when we do the same thing."

Johnson's statement extended the company's "deepest apologies" for the "reprehensible outcome" of the incident. He also said, "Starbucks stands firmly against discrimination or racial profiling."

Since the apology, #BoycottStarbucks has been trending. See some of the reaction below

We apologize to the two individuals and our customers for what took place at our Philadelphia store on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/suUsytXHks

— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 14, 2018

I hope that more than just an apology, @Starbucks will use its platform to generate conversations about this. Why is it so ridiculously easy to call cops on blk men? Or shoot at a 14 year old who's knocking on a door. https://t.co/RL1hJR1IFL

— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) April 14, 2018

To be black in America is to never be able to have your presence be benign, and to always be in danger, of unease, humiliation or even arrest (or death by arrest) because of it. That’s what racism is, in a nutshell. https://t.co/sK1ct8PbFi

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) April 14, 2018

.@KillerMike addresses the incident in which two black men were arrested while waiting in a Starbucks. @JoyAnnReid asks, "Do you think that encouraging black people to carry endangers black people's lives?" #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/3OEQ3Dh06I

— AM Joy w/Joy Reid (@amjoyshow) April 15, 2018

I guess I should share my announcement with y’all. On Wednesday, i will be officially opening my own coffee place inside Circle Centre. Been working on this since last month. Looking forward to your business...coffee is locally made. #BoycottStarbucks

— Reneé Larson (@iamreneejai) April 15, 2018

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I guess I should share my announcement with y’all. On Wednesday, i will be officially opening my own coffee place inside Circle Centre. Been working on this since last month. Looking forward to your business...coffee is locally made. #BoycottStarbucks

— Reneé Larson (@iamreneejai) April 15, 2018

I guess I should share my announcement with y’all. On Wednesday, i will be officially opening my own coffee place inside Circle Centre. Been working on this since last month. Looking forward to your business...coffee is locally made. #BoycottStarbucks

— Reneé Larson (@iamreneejai) April 15, 2018

I guess I should share my announcement with y’all. On Wednesday, i will be officially opening my own coffee place inside Circle Centre. Been working on this since last month. Looking forward to your business...coffee is locally made. #BoycottStarbucks

— Reneé Larson (@iamreneejai) April 15, 2018

One stupid employee about to cost Starbucks MILLIONS ?? #BoycottStarbucks

— Zynierah (@Zynierah) April 15, 2018

Feeling helpless is the worst, so I have an EXCELLENT action for you:
Call or email the Starbucks managers to tell them how you feel about them calling the cops on two Black men for sitting in their cafe, being humans, doing exactly nothing wrong. #BoycottStarbucks #Starbucks pic.twitter.com/scNMa7EkCM

— jessica lanyadoo (@jessicalanyadoo) April 15, 2018

A decision-making chart for calling the cops. Consider the consequences of your actions. #BoycottStarbucks pic.twitter.com/MNOtwfpH6t

— Dr. Chanda Shuri Prescod-Weinstein??‍♀️ ?? (@IBJIYONGI) April 15, 2018

The sad part is, the white patrons in the Starbucks challenging the police, have the privilege of questioning police. When black people "talk back" to cops we are met w aggression, threats and violence.

— Dr Sheena Howard (@DrSheenaHoward) April 15, 2018