An "open discussion:" Dontre Hamilton's family sits down with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The family of Dontre Hamilton met Wednesday, April 1st with Howard Schultz -- the CEO of Starbucks. It was a Starbucks employee who called police on Hamilton as he slept in Red Arrow Park last April. Hamilton was later shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney.
An attorney for the Hamilton family tells FOX6 News the meeting was set to take place Wednesday afternoon -- but he declined to say where they would be meeting -- saying both sides wanted to have a private discussion.
We're told the meeting occurred at 1:00 p.m., and the Hamilton family tells FOX6 News it involved a "good, open discussion."
FOX6 News is told Wednesday's meeting was the second between the family and Starbucks corporate representatives.
On April 30th, 2014, an employee at the Red Arrow Park Starbucks called Milwaukee police to report a man sleeping in the park. Eventually, Officer Christopher Manney responded and attempted to pat-down 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton. A struggle ensued before Manney shot and killed Hamilton.
Dontre Hamilton's family and their supporters would later protest at the Starbucks, asserting that the employee profiled Hamilton as homeless and a nuisance.
Two weeks ago, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced Starbucks' "Race Together" campaign -- encouraging baristas to discuss race relations with customers.
After widespread criticism, the company has pulled back on the initiative.
Schultz, however, still agreed to meet with the Hamilton family in an effort to create an understanding between a family and a corporation tied together by tragedy.
A Starbucks spokesperson issued this statement to FOX6 News:
"As part of our Race Together initiative to inspire greater conversation, compassion and understanding around race relations in America, Howard met with nearly 200 Starbucks partners (employees) in Milwaukee (Wednesday) for the eighth in a series of Open Forums we are hosting across the U.S. Howard will visit Atlanta next week for a similar discussion with over 300 partners.
These forums are just one way Starbucks is redefining the role and responsibility of a public company. This includes our commitment to hire at least 10,000 Opportunity Youth over the next three years who are either unemployed or not in school – providing them with a meaningful job and access to life-changing educational benefits through the Starbucks College Achievement Program.
Howard also had a very productive meeting earlier today with the Hamilton family during his visit to Milwaukee. We do not have any further details to share, out of respect to the family."
An attorney for the Hamilton family released this statement:
"(Wednesday), our family met with Howard Schultz and we are grateful that he took the time to travel to Milwaukee to personally express his condolences for the loss of Dontre. We began a dialogue about social and economic justice and discussed what efforts corporations can make towards fixing racial inequality, which is so present in Milwaukee. While encouraging, there is much more work to be done and we look forward to Starbucks honoring its commitment to continue this dialogue in the near future."
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office declined to criminally charge Manney in connection with the shooting of Dontre Hamilton -- but a Fire and Police Commission panel later ruled Manney's pat down of Hamilton and his use of force that day violated policy, and he will never again serve as a Milwaukee police officer despite appealing his termination.