The AOH is calling out Amazon for peddling "prejudice for profit."
By Irish Echo Staff
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is angry with Amazon. Again!
The Hibernians, in a statement, said they they once again noted that Amazon "continues to peddle prejudice for profit" in selling merchandise that "demeans and denigrates" the Irish and Irish America.
"In a year when the Irish American community is again being asked to to forego their traditional St. Patrick's Day celebrations out of respect for the health and welfare of the broader population amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, we find the sale by Amazon of items with the phrase 'F(expletive) St. Patrick's Day' inexcusably tone-deaf and insensitive."
The statement continued: "This is just another example of a long and continuing pattern of diversity duplicity by Amazon regarding the Irish. Besides shirts with 'F(expletive) St. Patrick's Day,' Amazon also sells hundreds of items with the phrase 'F(expletive) me I'm Irish.'
"Another search on Amazon returns a list of 180 items with the phrase 'Irish Girl Wasted' and 'Yes, I'm an Irish Girl, I Speak Fluent Drunk.' Is it not the definition of an oxymoron for Amazon to sell these demeaning items while simultaneously claiming to advocate for respect and empowerment for women in the tech industry?
"Amazon continues to sell hundreds of other products denigrating those of Irish Heritage with messages such as 'Irish Today Hungover Tomorrow, Irish, Drunk, or Whatever, and Drink Till You're Irish.'
"As our society attempts to address the challenge of divisiveness in the 21st century, the continued sale by Amazon of merchandise perpetuating the negative ethnic-based tropes and stereotypes of the 19th is callously irresponsible.
"Amazon has already established ample precedent in removing items that other communities have found offensive. Currently, over 8,000 people have signed a petition asking Amazon to remove its 'F(expletive) St. Patrick's Day' and other defaming merchandise targeting those of Irish heritage. We ask why Amazon is deaf to the Irish American community's call for the basic courtesy of equal respect and colorblind when the target of the hateful stereotypes they are selling is green?"
Link to product on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/St-Patricks-Day-Funny-2020/dp/B084M8SGTD/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Fuck+St.+PAtricks&qid=1613596319&sr=8-4. Link to the Petition asking Amazon to Remove Merchandise Demeaning Irish American, as it has removed offensive merchandise targeting other heritages: https://aoh.com/2020/02/28/amazon-petition/
