Walmart Pulls ‘Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter’ Clothing After Complaint
- 7 years ago
Walmart has issued a statement saying that it has agreed to stop selling clothing with the message, “Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter” after receiving a complaint.
Walmart has said it would pull controversial clothing from its website after receiving a complaint from a police organization, reports CNN Money.
According to a national Fraternal Order of Police, or FOP, Twitter account, Chuck Canterbury, the group’s national president, sent a letter on Tuesday to the retailer’s CEO, Doug McMillon, about what he called “offensive shirts and sweatshirts with the slogans ‘bulletproof’ and ‘black lives matter.’”
The request goes on to state, “I understand that these are third party sales and not Walmart products, but I am concerned that allowing these articles of clothing to be sold in this way will damage your company’s good name amongst FOP members and other active and retired law enforcement officers.”
In fact, the clothing was sold on Walmart.com, but it has been traced to a Connecticut-based company called Old Glory Merchandise, reports the Washington Post.
While the FOP has reportedly had some past conflicts with the Black Lives Matter movement, James Pasco, another official with the organization has indicated that they aren’t objecting to the phrase itself but rather, “The bulletproof thing goes to the new assertiveness of some violence prone individuals to take action directly against police. We find it offensive for that reason."
In response, a Walmart spokesperson has issued a statement saying, “Like other online retailers, we have a marketplace with millions of items offered by third parties that includes Blue Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter merchandise. After hearing concerns from customers, we are removing the specific item with the 'bulletproof' reference.”
Old Glory is said to have also agreed to stop selling the products.
Walmart has said it would pull controversial clothing from its website after receiving a complaint from a police organization, reports CNN Money.
According to a national Fraternal Order of Police, or FOP, Twitter account, Chuck Canterbury, the group’s national president, sent a letter on Tuesday to the retailer’s CEO, Doug McMillon, about what he called “offensive shirts and sweatshirts with the slogans ‘bulletproof’ and ‘black lives matter.’”
The request goes on to state, “I understand that these are third party sales and not Walmart products, but I am concerned that allowing these articles of clothing to be sold in this way will damage your company’s good name amongst FOP members and other active and retired law enforcement officers.”
In fact, the clothing was sold on Walmart.com, but it has been traced to a Connecticut-based company called Old Glory Merchandise, reports the Washington Post.
While the FOP has reportedly had some past conflicts with the Black Lives Matter movement, James Pasco, another official with the organization has indicated that they aren’t objecting to the phrase itself but rather, “The bulletproof thing goes to the new assertiveness of some violence prone individuals to take action directly against police. We find it offensive for that reason."
In response, a Walmart spokesperson has issued a statement saying, “Like other online retailers, we have a marketplace with millions of items offered by third parties that includes Blue Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter merchandise. After hearing concerns from customers, we are removing the specific item with the 'bulletproof' reference.”
Old Glory is said to have also agreed to stop selling the products.