Walmart is set to discontinue sales of “All Lives Matter” merchandise on their website, after a social media backlash, according to USA Today.
The large retailer is removing the items which are sold by third-party sellers “indefinitely,” after hearing from some employees and customers who were concerned about the meaning behind the merchandise. Walmart said in a statement they will put its emphasis on Black people and other people of color whose lives are being “impacted by ongoing racial injustice.”
“We fundamentally believe all lives do matter and every individual deserves respect,” according to their statement. “However, as we listened, we came to understand that the way some, but not all, people are using the phrase ‘All Lives Matter’ in the current environment intentionally minimized the focus on the painful reality of racial inequity.”
Hey, @Walmart @WalmartCanada can you explain why you're selling "All Lives Matter" and "Blue Lives Matter" shirts on your website? Who approved this?
Remove these now. You should be ashamed.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/PxTt1t3Vds
— Beth Williams (@bethmacdonnell) June 23, 2020
Last week, Walmart said it would no longer display the Mississippi state flag which features a Confederate emblem, in its stores.