AppleInsider Staff
As citizens in countries around the world call for a reckoning on racial justice and equality, Apple on Friday quietly renamed its Apple Buchanan Street store in Scotland to a title not associated with the prominent local slave owner.
The name change was made official on Apple's retail website, which now lists the store as Apple Glasgow.
As noted by 9to5Mac, which spotted the modification earlier today, Apple will sometimes rebadge brick-and-mortar outlets after a move or when a host shopping mall changes its name. In this case, however, the Glasgow location is an independent storefront on Buchanan Street.
Though Apple has not commented on the matter, it is thought that ongoing protests prompted the change from Apple Buchanan Street to the less descriptive Apple Glasgow.
Emboldened by George Floyd's killing in the U.S., demonstrators in the UK have taken their calls for racial equality to the streets. Like many regions of Europe, Glasgow is not unaffected by former wrongs committed by slave owners, traders and others whose actions were morally questionable.
Buchanan Street is named after prominent businessman Andrew Buchanan, who owned and operated tobacco plantations in the U.S. The avenue, which is now a popular shopping destination, was built after his death on land owned by the family.
By changing the name of its store, Apple appears to be siding with protestors in the region who seek to change various street names associated with slave owners or figures who supported racial inequality.
The move comes one day after Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative to be led by Lisa Jackson, the company's vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. Cook in a video posted to Twitter addressed the unrest seen across the nation, and now the world, following Floyd's death at the hands of police last month, saying Apple will be a force for good in the fight for racial equity and justice.
Apple Glasgow remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The store could reopen soon, as Apple plans to open the doors to 32 outlets in the UK on June 15.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
39 Comments
That’s awesome. When will Apple also stand up for LGBTQ+ rights in the Middle East? That’s also important
Ok Apple. That shop is on Buchanan Street, across from the Buchanan Galleries mall etc. Who knew or cared what Apple called it. Buchanan died before the American independence, so thanks
for highlighting the fact that the British established slavery in their colonies. Perhaps they can pay the reparations. Thanks for that, jerks.