Walmart is facing scrutiny for selling shirts that appear to support certain race-related and social movements, with T-shirts that feature variations of the “Black Lives Matter” slogan, including “All Lives Matter,” “Blue Lives Matter,” “Irish Lives Matter” and “Homeless Lives Matter.”
Folks on social media have responded with ire, accusing the megastore of poking fun at the Black Lives Matter movement. BLM was formed as a way to call for action about racism and raising awareness about police killings of Black people. Even though some of the shirts, including the “All Lives Matter” options, are no longer on sale, the backlash has continued for Walmart’s American and Canadian online marketplace.
The slogan, “Black Lives Matter,” and movement was sparked in 2012 after the death of Trayvon Martin, a Florida teenager who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman thought the teen was suspicious and had a gun.
As it did in 2012, the movement has been galvanizing yet polarizing in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody. Folks in support of the movement say it is a message that means the deaths of Floyd and Martin, and dozens of others, should be properly prosecuted and changes should be made in legislation. For others, some who have suggested the term “All Lives Matter,” there is a sentiment that the movement is focusing only on the deaths of Black people and ignoring the risk police officers take and other killings that take place that do not involve Black people and law enforcement.
As for the T-shirts that featured both “matter” phrases, the store was selling them online at walmart.com and Walmart Canada online.
In America, shirts were being sold with slogans including “Blue Lives Matter” and “All Lives Can’t Matter Until Black Lives Matter.” In Canada, shirts were being sold with the phrase “All Lives Matter” embossed on them.
In a comment to CBC, Walmart Canada said it “stand[s] against any form of racism or discrimination.” “We promote listening, seeking to understand and embracing individual differences. Today, our third-party marketplace has a number of items with variations on the phrase ‘lives matter.’ We will continue to review those items to ensure compliance with our terms and conditions.”
Walmart was no longer selling the “All Lives Matter” shirts as of Tuesday, but the “Blue Lives” and others were still for sale in America. Some were in support of the shirts expressing various points of view.
Walmart said in an email to CNN that its online marketplace includes third-party sellers who are required to meet certain criteria before products can be sold on the store's site. Those standards include that the products being sold comply with all applicable laws, regulations, legal requirements and generally accepted industry standards. Walmart said sellers can't post illegal or prohibited products.
This is not the first time a third-party seller has gotten Walmart in trouble. In December, Walmart Canada apologized for making available a Christmas sweater with what appeared to be a drug reference. And, in 2017, the company apologized for an offensive slur used by a third-party seller in a product listing on its website.
T-shirts bearing "All Lives Matter," "Blue Lives Matter" and "Irish Lives Matter" slogans are also selling on Amazon. Amazon had not offered a statement to CNN or other news outlets as of Tuesday morning.
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