Walmart comes under fire for selling All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter T-shirts as critics slam the superstore for detracting from black solidarity movement saying ‘What’s next white robes and hoods?’
- Walmart has come under fire for selling merchandise promoting the All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements on their Canada and US websites
- The sales come despite protests to end racism against the black community
- A customer in Canada blasted Walmart for selling the items saying: ‘Do better’
- Walmart replied clarifying the items were sold by a third party and the sale of the merchandise would be evaluated
- One outraged customer commented on a product saying: What’s next white robes and hoods?
Walmart has come under fire for selling All Lives Matter T-shirts and Blue Lives Matter T-shirts amid protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality against the black community.
The All Lives Matter items sold on the store’s US website are advertised by a company called Old Glory. A company called New Way sells merchandise for the police solidarity Blue Lives Matter movement. Walmart also sells an array of Black Lives Matter clothing as well.
Critics blasted the company saying selling such contraversial items detracts from the Black Lives Matter movement.
One customer in Canada called out Walmart on Twitter writing: Are you kidding me @Walmartcanada ??? Disgusting. Do better.’
Walmart has come under fire for selling All Lives Matter T-shirts and Blue Lives Matter T-shirts amid protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality against black people
Walmart’s US website features an array of All Lives Matter T-shirts for sale averaging at the price of $15 each
A company called New Way also sells Blue Lives Matter items on the Walmart website
One outraged customer complained in a product review on the Walmart website writing: ‘Will you also be selling white robes & hoods? I don’t even like giving this a single star rating. Grotesque. Despicable. Stop enabling racism.’
‘This is so disappointing. And yet… I’m not surprised,’ one Twitter user complained.
‘Even if they remove it I’m done with Walmart. They should absolutely know better and clearly support racism and probably sell dog whistles with confederate flags on em too,’ another added.
Walmart Canada replied saying: ‘This item is sold and shipped by a third party seller. We’ve forwarded your comments to the appropriate department to look into further. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.’
‘We stand against any form of racism or discrimination. We promote listening, seeking to understand and embracing individual differences,’ Walmart said in a statement
One customer in Canada called out Walmart on Twitter writing: Are you kidding me @Walmartcanada ??? Disgusting. Do better.’
Walmart replied saying the criticism has been forwarded for further evaluation
‘We stand against any form of racism or discrimination. We promote listening, seeking to understand and embracing individual differences,’ the company added.
Walmart USA is yet to comment on the merchandise.
On the US website a third party company named Trendy USA sells counterpoint ‘All Lives Matter?’ T-shifts with the tagline ‘If All Lives Really Mattered to You, We Wouldn’t Be Protesting. BlackLivesMatter’.
Walmart’s website also says an array of merchandise supporting the Black Lives Matter movement including T-shirts with the phrase, tops saying ‘I Can’t Breathe’, and face masks.
As of Wednesday afternoon the White Lives and Blue Lives matter merchandise were still up.
Backlash: This customer declared they’re done shopping at Walmart for selling that merch
Walmart’s website also says an array of merchandise supporting the Black Lives Matter movement including T-shirts with the phrase, tops saying ‘I Can’t Breathe’, and face masks
Walmart had previously released statements amid protests sweeping across the country saying it is ‘taking steps to address racism head-on and accelerate change.’
The protests were prompted by the brutal police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 where a white cop was filmed pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine excruciating minutes.
Walmart has committed $100million towards a center for racial equity and promised to ‘address systemic racism in society’.
‘The doors of Walmart are open to everyone. Our stores should be a place where every individual can feel welcome and know that they will be treated with respect as they work or shop,’ the store said in a statement on June 5.
Also this week the retailer announced it will stop displaying the Mississippi state flag in its 85 stores there because the banner includes the Confederate battle flag, following complaints.
‘We know the design of the Mississippi state flag is being discussed by various stakeholders. While the issue continues to be discussed, we’ve made the decision to remove the Mississippi state flag from display in its current form from our stores,’ the store said to CNN.