Pro-Palestine protest mob ‘spat at Starbucks staff’ in Melbourne
Police are investigating an incident in which protesters allegedly spat on a Starbucks employee; merchandise was also allegedly stolen from the store.
Police are investigating a “nasty incident” in which pro-Palestinian protesters allegedly spat at Starbucks workers and stole items from the cafe in Melbourne’s CBD on New Year’s Eve.
Victoria Police is working to identify the protesters involved; the incident allegedly occurred at the Starbucks store on Swanston Street between Lonsdale Street and Little Lonsdale Street.
Officers received reports a group of people attended the store about 10pm on Tuesday and had spat at staff, Victorian Police said. “Officers arrived a short time later and were told by staff that a number of people had (been) making anti-Israel chants,” a police spokesperson said.
“A number of people in the group then stole items from the store and left without paying.”
Victoria Police earlier confirmed a small number of pro-Palestinian protesters had been marching along Swanston Street on Tuesday evening when the incident allegedly occurred. “The march went for about 45 minutes before the group dispersed,” a spokesperson said.
“There was a nasty incident reported where a couple of protesters spat at staff at a coffee shop on Swanston Street.”
Assistant Police Commissioner Chris Gilbert said the reported incident was “fairly disgusting … We did have a small pro-Palestinian demonstration or protest late yesterday that was in the city area. It was a small crowd of well less than 100 people – they weren’t there for a very long time,” Mr Gilbert said.
“But we are looking, subsequent to that protest activity, at what’s a fairly disgusting incident that’s been reported of someone being spat at by protesters; our investigators will look at that as it goes along.”
The Herald Sun reported that some four Starbucks staff members working the late shift were intimidated and provoked by the group, leading to the store’s manager calling police for assistance.
A spokesperson for Starbucks Australia said it was “deeply concerned” about the incident.
“All our partners (Starbucks employees) and customers are safe and we are working closely with Victoria Police, who are investigating the incident,” they said. “The safety and wellbeing of our partners (employees) and customers remains our top priority and we are committed to their welfare.”
Starbucks has been a target for the pro-Palestine movement since October 2023 when the coffee chain and the Workers United union in the US were embroiled in lawsuits over social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.
The union, which organises Starbucks workers, made a post on X under the name “Starbucks Workers United” on October 9, 2023 – two days after Hamas militants made a cross-border assault on communities in southern Israel – that called for “Solidarity with Palestine!”
The post was deleted after 40 minutes but Starbucks sued the union for trademark infringement for using a logo resembling Starbucks’ logo. Workers United then asked a federal court to rule it could continue using Starbucks’ name and logo. It also claimed it had been defamed by Starbucks, which had allegedly imputed that it supported terrorism.
Just over a year ago, Starbucks stores on Swanston Street were targeted for boycott and harassed by pro-Palestinian protesters due to what they saw as links to Israel.
The stores were covered in stickers of a Palestinian flag and a crossed-out Israeli flag, while red graffiti was sprayed on the shops’ exteriors, forcing staff to shutter and lock up.
Starbucks has denied it or its chief executive, Howard Schultz, have links to Israel. “This is absolutely untrue. Rumors Starbucks or Howard provides financial support to the Israeli government or Israeli army are unequivocally false,” it said in a statement. Starbucks was contacted for comment.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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