November 24th, 2023

Seattle, WA

Nearly 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room on Capitol Hill in Seattle to protest Starbucks and their alleged* support of Israel. After disrupting the full coffee business, customers were told to exit through side doors, all entrances were locked and workers were sent home through alley exits.

The protest then moved to Westlake Park by marching down Pine St. via Melrose Ave. Upon entering the area of the holiday event, a circle was formed in the street after meeting up with another group of pro-Palestine protestors. Using banners and the bike brigade to create space, the area between the Westlake stage and the tree became a protest area. Some tables were overturned as activists took over the stage to hold a banner.  Despite some yelling from those there to see a tree with lights, there was little interaction between them and those protesting for human lives.

Activists took turns speaking about the atrocities in Palestine, some protestors released balloons with signs reading “Merry Genocide”, “Free Palestine”, and “Let Gaza Live”, and eventually the tree was lit, and the crowds began leaving.

*(A key element of Starbucks’ potential backing for Israel is found in its most prominent private shareholder, Howard Schultz. Recognized for his unwavering advocacy of Zionism, Schultz possesses a significant ownership stake in Starbucks and has actively endorsed Israel’s economic endeavors. Particularly noteworthy is Schultz’s high-profile investment of $1.7 billion in an Israeli cybersecurity startup named Wiz. This financial commitment underscores Schultz’s dedication to fostering Israel’s economic prosperity and technological progress, raising inquiries about Starbucks’ implicit alignment with Israeli interests.). https://fortune.com/2021/04/07/wiz-howard-schultz-investment-fundraising-cybersecurity-startups-starbucks-ceo/

According to Reuters, “Asked for comment, Starbucks referred to a statement on its website about its operations in the Middle East that was updated in October. The statement said the company was a non-political organisation and dismissed rumours that it had provided support to the Israeli government or army. Starbucks, which earlier this month reported record revenues for the fourth quarter, said it had nothing further to share on its business.” https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/boycott-campaigns-over-gaza-war-hit-western-brands-some-arab-countries-2023-11-22/