Walmart to stop selling “Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter” shirts after National Pig Union protest...

stringer bell
stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2016/12/20/fraternal-order-of-police-asks-walmart-to-stop-selling-black-lives-matter-shirts/?utm_term=.1b2acbf43b04
Walmart to stop selling “Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter” shirts after police protest


The president of the national Fraternal Order of Police, the country’s largest police organization, on Tuesday asked Walmart to stop selling t-shirts and sweatshirts which say “Black Lives Matter” and “Bulletproof” on the department store’s website. On Tuesday night, Walmart said it would remove the shirts which say “Bulletproof,” but not the “Black Lives Matter” shirts.

“Black Lives Matter” is a slogan and protest movement which emerged after the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and police-involved slayings in 2014, and is seen as offensive by many in law enforcement. The website Breitbart.com posted an article last week which said that Walmart was “selling Black Lives Matter clothing and other items,” though the merchandise is actually being sold through Walmart’s website by Old Glory Merchandise, a music and entertainment apparel dealer out of Connecticut.

Chuck Canterbury, the FOP president, wrote to Walmart CEO C. Douglas McMillon Tuesday to advise him that the Walmart website was selling “offensive shirts and sweatshirts,” and “I urge you to prohibit the use of the Walmart name and website for the retail sale of these products.” The Walmart site and Old Glory’s site also sell “Blue Lives Matter” shirts.

Canterbury said he understood that a third party was selling the merchandise, but “I am concerned that allowing these articles to be sold in this way will damage your company’s good name amongst FOP members and other active and retired law enforcement officers.” Canterbury added, “Commercializing our differences will not help our local police and communities to build greater trust and respect for one another.”

Walmart issued a statement Tuesday night saying that, “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.” The “bulletproof” shirts say “Bulletproof” with “Black Lives Matter” beneath that line.


Old Glory did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jim Pasco, the executive director of the police union in Washington, said the issue was raised by union members who felt Walmart was selling anti-police items. “There are a lot of people who feel too many guns are sold,” Pasco said. “Why not speak out against things that might be seen as fomenting violence, rather than things that commit violence?”

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Comments

  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-pulls-black-lives-matter-shirt-2016-12
    The retail giant's website will continue to offer items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats bearing the words "Black Lives Matter," created and sold by third-party retailers. Walmart's website also features apparel that read "All Lives Matter," "Blue Lives Matter," "Homeless Lives Matter," and "Journalists Lives Matter."

    A search "Black Lives Matter" on Walmart's site Wednesday morning. The 'Bulletproof' hoodie, second from the left, has since been cut from the site.Walmart.com

    As of Wednesday at 11 a.m., the "Bulletproof" shirt could no longer be accessed on Walmart's website, but other "Black Lives Matter" merchandise remained available.

    Breitbart, a right-wing website that has been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement, published an article last week calling out Walmart for selling "Black Lives Matter" merchandise on its website. Following the publication of Brietbart's article, a number of people took to social media to complain about the shirts.
  • Copper
    Copper Members Posts: 49,532 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cops get thier feelings hurt more than a guest on an episode of cheaters
  •   Colin$mackabi$h
    Colin$mackabi$h Members Posts: 16,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well dont they support prisons or something?
  • blackamerica
    blackamerica Members Posts: 2,897 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Their feelings aren't hurt. They are just attempting a power move on BLM. But truth be told, I'm kinda skeptical of BLM and their ? azz agendas
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    https://www.facebook.com/NationalFraternalOrderofPolice/posts/1529369460410541
    In a follow-up Facebook post, the national FOP said, “The FOP certainly supports the First Amendment and we thank Walmart for taking down the inflammatory messages.”

    Typical fascist response...
  • rapmusic
    rapmusic Members Posts: 4,130 ✭✭✭✭✭
    But how do YOU feel about this? I've seen people saying that they should stop because it's Walmart selling the shirt and no black people benefit from the sales.
  • 1CK1S
    1CK1S Members Posts: 27,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
    F-ck Wal-Mart! They still support ALEC!

    And these cops are worse than b-tches. They're complaining about everything.
  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/12/22/walmart-stops-selling-bulletproof-shirts-after-police-complaint/95742566/
    FOP National President Chuck Canterbury, in a letter sent Tuesday to Walmart President and CEO C. Douglas McMillon, called the shirts offensive and said he was concerned Walmart's decision to sell them would "damage your company's good name amongst FOP members and active and retired law enforcement officers."

    Canterbury also chided third-party sellers for what he called an attempt to profit off racial division.

    "Commercializing our differences will not help our local police and communities to build greater trust and respect for one another," the letter said. "Turning a buck on strained relationships will not contribute to the healing process."

    The "bulletproof" shirt did not appear on Walmart's website Thursday morning, but dozens of other "Black Lives Matter" shirts were listed. The Black Lives Matter organization, which describes itself as trying to rebuild the black liberation movement, has risen to prominence for activism in light of police shootings involving African Americans.

    Glenn Morelli, the owner of Old Glory Merchandise, the shirt's maker, said he's not surprised by the FOP's request. He got a call from the organization last week and decided he'd pull the shirt himself. He said the shirt now isn't featured on any of the websites selling Old Glory merchandise.

    "We understand where the FOP stand and their point of view," Morelli said. "We didn't want to ruffle any feathers. Also, too, we support the police in different ways."

    FOP Executive Director Jim Pasco said his organization doesn't oppose the "Black Lives Matter" phrase, but does object to those who intend to divide Americans racially. The organization, he said, decided to take action after the shirt was flagged by members.

    The FOP also posted a similar letter addressed to Amazon Chairman and CEO Jeff Bezos. The letter, dated Wednesday, raised concerns over the slogans "bulletproof," "Black Lives Matter" and "Hands Up, Don't Shoot." It urges Amazon to stop selling the items.

    "Because I believe you share the FOP's goal of increasing the bonds of trust between the men and women of law enforcement, I wanted to let you know that my members are very upset that you and Amazon are complicit in the sale of this offensive merchandise," Canterbury wrote.

    A version of the "bulletproof" t-shirts are still available on Amazon, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


  • stringer bell
    stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
    http://wreg.com/2016/12/22/walmart-pulls-bulletproof-black-lives-matter-items-after-police-object/
    Pasco added that the police union had yet to reach out to the third party vendor, Old Glory, that sells the bulletproof items. But Old Glory owner Glenn Morelli said he’s already decided to take down the shirt from his site as well.

    “It wasn’t a big seller at all. The Blue Lives Matter sells more than the Black Lives Matter or bulletproof shirts combined,” Morelli said. “We don’t like to offend anybody.”

    He said his company offers more than 500,000 different kinds of shirts and sweatshirts on its site.

    “When you sell that many, you have to sell all different kinds of shirts,” he said. “It’s hard to make everybody happy.”

    Smh.. Since 'Black Lives' matter merchandise doesn't sell as well as pig lives matter ? .. Then his saltine ass should take all of the pro-Black merchandise down then.. Because obviously your white supremacist customer base doesn't support it and neither do you.. It's only up there for PR purposes...
  • R0mp
    R0mp Members Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Walmart succumbing to PC police and SJWs. Freedom of speech.