Walmart pulls ‘All Lives Matter’ shirts following protests, but Amazon is still selling them | CBC News

Walmart has pulled merchandise bearing the slogan “All Lives Matter” bought by unbiased sellers on its web site. The transfer follows outrage expressed on social media that the phrase disparages the Black Lives Matter motion. 

Meanwhile, Amazon continues to promote the objects, regardless of buyer complaints.

Walmart began getting referred to as out in June for carrying merchandise with variations on the Black Lives Matter slogan and stated it might evaluation the merchandise. 

Although the retail big has eradicated its “All Lives Matter” objects, some associated merchandise stays. 

Items nonetheless on the market embody attire stating, “Blue Lives Matter” — which refers to police — and T-shirts with joke slogans similar to “Drunk Wives Matter and “Irish Lives Matter” that supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement say aren’t funny at all and undermine the original message.

Laurel Tubman of Toronto complained to Walmart on Twitter last month about the “Lives Matter” apparel, which she calls “inflammatory rubbish.” She said she’s disappointed the retailer hasn’t removed all related items.

WATCH | Walmart said in June it would review the merchandise with ‘All Lives Matter’ and other variations on the Black Lives Matter slogan:

“There’s no such factor as half-measures,” she told CBC News. “When it simply makes a mockery of [Black Lives Matter] — like ‘Drunk Wives Matter’ — these are the form of issues that simply want to come back down.”

Black Lives Matter is a global activist movement advocating for an end to police brutality and anti-Black racism. Proponents argue slogans claiming that other “lives matter” undermine the Black Lives Matter message by discounting the disproportionate racism that Black people face, especially at the hands of police. 

“It’s simply an try and take the ability out of Black Lives Matter,” said Cheryl Thompson, a professor at Ryerson University’s School of Creative Industries in Toronto. “It simply utterly silences it.” 

Walmart also sells “Black Lives Matter” merchandise.

In a written statement, Walmart said it pulled “All Lives Matter” products on its site following complaints from employees and customers.

“We basically consider all lives do matter and each particular person deserves respect,” said the retailer. “However, as we listened, we got here to grasp that the best way some, however not all, individuals are utilizing the phrase ‘All Lives Matter’ within the present surroundings deliberately minimized the deal with the painful actuality of racial inequity.”

Walmart said it’s increasing scrutiny of the other “Lives Matter” products sold on its website to ensure compliance with its terms and conditions. 

Thompson suggests Walmart chose not to remove all of the “Lives Matter” merchandise that sparked controversy to appease customers who say the slogans are innocuous.

“It’s all the time this bizarre stability that they are making an attempt to strike between making an attempt to look as in the event that they’re on the aspect of social justice however then additionally not mainly pissing off the non-social justice individuals.”

Walmart’s decision to pull its “All Lives Matter” shirts has already generated criticism on social media from some people. 

Amazon sells variety of ‘lives matter’ T-shirts

Amazon still allows independent dealers to sell “All Lives Matter” attire on its web site, angering some customers.

“Is this a joke? Or so racists can determine one another?” Carla Tilt of Hamilton commented in the customer review section beneath one of many shirts bought on Amazon Canada’s website. 

The retail giant also sells “Blue Lives Matter” apparel and T-shirts bearing slogans meant to be humorous, such as “Clown Lives Matter” and “Pitbull Lives Matter.” Like Walmart, the items sell alongside “Black Lives Matter” merchandise on the site. 

Amazon did not respond to a CBC News inquiry about the apparel and customer complaints. 

Last month, Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, made headlines when he championed the Black Lives Matter motion and publicly denounced a customer who argued that all lives matter.

“‘Black Lives Matter’ speaks to racism and the disproportionate danger that Black individuals face in our legislation enforcement and justice system,” Bezos responded to the customer on his Instagram page. 

Tubman, who protested Walmart’s “All Lives Matter” apparel, said it’s hypocritical for a retailer to announce its support for Black Lives Matter but then sell merchandise that hurts the cause. 

“They nonetheless need to make a buck and can nonetheless promote issues which have fairly offensive statements.”

Thompson suggests Amazon views itself as a large flea market that isn’t responsible for what third-party vendors sell on its site. 

“They’re internet hosting so many — tens of hundreds of individuals promoting merchandise,” she said. “Amazon most likely takes the perspective of, ‘Well, we’re not in command of what these companies promote. We’re simply the platform.'”

Amazon also sells “Blue Lives Murder” shirts, which have generated complaints that they are offensive to cops. More than 73,000 individuals have signed an online petition asking the retailer to take away the objects.