Starbucks will allow staff to wear Black Lives Matters T-shirts and pins after facing boycotts over banning employees from wearing the items of clothing because ‘it could incite violence' (16 Pics)

Starbucks has announced that employees are now allowed to wear Black Lives Matter T-shirts and pins after initially banning the items - reportedly over fears it could incite violence.  

The Seattle-based company reversed its dress code policy to let employees wear Black Lives Matter items on Friday. 

In a statement to CNN Business, Starbucks said it's 'critical to support the 'Black Lives Matter' movement as its founders intended and will continue to work closely with community leaders, civil rights leaders, organizations, and our partners to understand the role that Starbucks can play, and to show up in a positive way for our communities.'

Starbucks will allow staffers to wear their own Black Lives Matter T-shits or pins until the company's new branded shirts are delivered to the 250,000 employees. 

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Starbucks publicly got behind the Black Lives Matter movement after protests against police brutality, but was lambasted after banning employees from wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts and pins

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Starbucks shared a version of their Black Lives Matter design, which include messages like 'Time for Change and 'No Justice, No Peace', on Twitter after facing backlash this week

The branded shirts will include the phrases like 'Black Lives Matter and 'No Justice, No Peace.'

The design is a collaboration between Starbucks Black Partner Network and Black Starbucks leaders.

'This movement is a catalyst for change, and right now, it's telling us a lot of things need to be addressed so we can make space to heal,' Starbucks said in a letter to employees announcing the design. 

'We’ve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity.'

The day before, store managers at Starbucks relayed requests from employees who wanted to wear the clothes, but were told by superiors that it was against the company's dress code. The managers reportedly also were told that BLM swag could potentially incite violence.

The stance came at odds with the company's Black Lives Matter statement released June 4, in which they announced their commitment.

'We are actively hosting open and necessary conversations with out partners (employees) about racism the Black community faces. Our work does not end here,' they wrote. 

But an internal memo explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness.'

The memo was quoting remarks made by Zing Shaw, the company's vice president of inclusion and diversity.

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Starbucks was called out by social media users who felt the company was being insincere and hypocritical about its stance with Black Lives Matter 

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An internal Starbucks memo addressing BLM-related clothing explains 'there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness

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Pictured: Trolice Flavors holds up a fist during a 'We Want to Live"'march and protest against racial inequality in Seattle, Washington, where the company was founded

'We know your intent is genuine and understand how personal this is for so many of us. This is important and we hear you,' the company continues in the memo obtained by BuzzFeed.  

Starbucks was met with backlash from social media users and employees who saw the move as hypocritical. 

It's stock share fell more than three per cent after the incident was revealed to the public. The company began Friday morning with a $75.74 stock price and ended the day at $72.40. 

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Pictured: Stock shares for Starbucks fell on Thursday after it was revealed the company would not let employees wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts and pins

Employees pointed out that Starbucks encourages them to wear clothing celebrating marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights during Pride month in June.  

Employees told Buzzfeed that the company hands out buttons and attire for Pride month.  

Others outraged by the revelation took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. 

'If Starbucks is saying #BlackLivesMatter attire is prohibited, and you end up there, Make 'Black Lives Matter' wrote Twitter user Steve Marmel.

He encouraged people to write their names on Starbucks coffee cups and to shout loudly, 'Black Lives Matter! Your frappacino is ready!' as the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending Thursday.

People who learned of the ban took to Twitter to blast Starbucks and called for a boycott of the company. Pictured is a tweet from Steve Marmel which was posted with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks, which was trending Thursday

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Marmel's tweet includes a picture of a Starbucks coffee cup with the words, 'Black Lives Matter' written on the side (pictured)

Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban. 

Mowgli, who tweets under the handle @KatieMowgli, vowed she would not be visiting the stores.   

'I'll be telling EVERYONE I KNOW to boycott them as well,' she adds in the tweet.

A Twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban. 

In her post, she includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The Twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya.

Starbucks claims its original logo is based on a siren from an ancient Norse woodcut. 

Katie Mowgli on Twitter said Starbucks was 'catering to the comfort of their racist customers,' in response to the ban;

A twitter user who goes under the handle @MireyaaAzelinn suggested Starbucks change its famed mermaid logo in response to the ban

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In her post, @MireyaaAzelinn includes an image of the black goddess Yemaya, a black mermaid from Santeria. The twitter user claims that the current Starbucks logo is based on Yemaya (pictured)

The company says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores.' 

It also added that all within the company can wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network.  

Starbucks employees who learned of the memo were critical of the policy.

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Starbucks says it was looking at how 'we can show up and stand united with our black partners, customers and community members while proudly wearing the green apron in our stores'

'That statement prioritizes those who feel discomfort over Black lives,' Atlanta barista Carl Bensen, 22, told BuzzFeed.

'My skin color incites violence at Starbucks. Should I not come to work?' he asked. 'It is silencing and Starbucks is complicit. Now more than ever, Starbucks needs to stand with us.' 

A Starbucks spokesperson initially told Buzzfeed that while the company was committed to ending systematic racism, the policy still stands to ensure that its stores remain safe and welcoming. 

'We respect all of our partners' opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy,' the spokesperson said. 

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Starbucks has encouraged all in the company to wear a 'Keep it Brewing' t-shirt from its Black Partner Network

Starbucks in a tweet on June 1 as protests were erupting over the police-related slaying of George Floyd called for 'open and honest conversations about racial injustices.' 

But in 2018, Starbucks became embroiled in controversy after a manager in Philadelphia called the police on two black men sitting inside the store.

The store manager claimed that she called over loitering, but several people called the incident racist because several white customers were also sitting inside the store at the time and were not confronted by police.

Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, both 23-years-old, that they arrived at the Starbucks early for a meeting.  

As soon as they arrived, Nelson went to ask to use the restroom while his friend found them a table

But a manager, Holly Hylton, told him that the restrooms 'were for paying customers only,' so he decided to take his seat and wait until their meeting

'I just left it at that at that moment,' he told Good Morning America.

Soon after however, Robinson says the manager came out from behind the register to speak to them.

'We're at the table, we sit down we're just talking amongst each other. She comes from around the register and walks up to ask if she can help us with anything, can we start with some drinks or water or something like that,' Robinson says.

Robinson says they declined and said they were 'just waiting for a meeting' and 'we'll be out really quick'.

But about two minutes after they arrived at the cafe, the manager called 911 and said that they were 'refusing to make a purchase'.

Video of the incident was shared to Facebook Live and quickly went viral, prompting many to boycott the coffee company. 

The company created a 'Third Place Policy' after the incident, that says Starbucks is 'committed to creating a culture of warmth and belonging where everyone is welcome.

'We want our stores to be the third place, a warm and welcoming environment where customers can gather and connect,' a statement on the policy explains.

'Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase,' the statement says.

In addition to the policy, Starbucks has pledged $1 million to design anti-bias resources and training to help confront bias and racism. The initiative, Starbucks says, comes through a partnership with Arizona State University.

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Starbucks has pledged $1 million to organizations that will promote racial equity. The funding comes through partnership with Arizona State University. A tweet from the company (pictured) announced the initiative

Despite its latest efforts to support Black Lives Matter, Starbucks employees still complained the company was not being sincere enough in light of the George Floyd police-related slaying in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

The 46-year-old black father-of two-died as he was being arrested by a white officer. Video of the incident shows the now-fired cop Derek Chauvin pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes, causing his death.

Floyd's passing sparked protests across the country against police brutality and calling for reforms. 

'We have a police detail outside of the store most days anyway. Let's just call him over if a customer is offended by someone's BLM pin,' an anonymous Starbucks employee told Buzzfeed.

'There's something deeper here,' the employee says, voicing criticism of Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. 

'Kevin Johnson talks a big talk on Twitter, but he's still the head of a multibillion-dollar company that has to keep up with its image,' the employee says. 'God forbid if employees tarnish that pristine global image.' 

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An anonymous Starbucks employee voice criticism of CEO Kevin Johnson (pictured). 'Kevin Johnson talks a big talk on Twitter, but he's still the head of a multibillion-dollar company that has to keep up with its image,' the employee says