Walmart boycott over offensive Irish merchandise, Irish American lobbies US megastore

Kevin Westley, the Irish American man who in 2015 successfully lobbied his local Walmart to stop selling t-shirts labeling the Irish as drunks, is back in 2019 to take on the store's website. 

Do you cringe every time March comes around and you're forced to grin and bear the tacky, green t-shirts that come on the market for St Patrick's Day?

You know the ones we mean! Those t-shirts that talk about nothing but drinking and promote the stereotype of Irish people as drunks who will spend the whole of March 17 doing nothing but prop up a bar. 

Back in 2015, one Irish American said "No more!" successfully lobbying his local Walmart to get rid of the offensive clothing and now he is back for St Patrick's Day 2019 to ensure that we no longer have to put up with the anger-inducing t-shirts. 

Read more: Walmart's insulting St. Patrick's Day t-shirts target of Irish American man's boycott

Kevin Westley began his one-man campaign four years ago, buying up all the March 17 stock from his local Walmart and returning it again, as per the store's policy, on March 18, when it was no longer of use. 

His efforts won the respect of many and such was the feedback from the campaign that he did not see any of the offending T-shirts stocked in Walmart in the following years.

Last year, however, Westley spied a bumper crop of the t-shirts on the store's website, starting up a Facebook campaign to boycott Walmart for the month of March in protest of the merchandise. 

With the website once again showcasing a wide-array of drinking-themed St Patrick's Day t-shirts in 2019, the Long Island man has taken up the mantle again to call on Irish America to resume its Walmart boycott during Irish American Heritage Month (which begins this Friday, March 1). 

Read more: Irishman returns $400 of offensive Irish t-shirts to Walmart after St. Patrick’s Day

"I sent the following letter to Walmart 'contact' link on their website. When I got no reply, I also emailed it to my corporate contacts from prior years. I still have gotten no reply," Westley wrote on Facebook.

"As in past years, I am asking you to contact Walmart and let them know how you feel about these T-shirts. I suggest that we Boycott them for the month of March in honor of St. Patrick and our Irish relatives and ancestors."

You can read Westley's letter to Walmart in full, below:

"For several years, Walmart stores have not been selling any offensive Irish stereotypical drinking T-shirts for St. Patrick’s Day. I thank you for that. Unfortunately, your website is selling these shirts for 2019 (see attached).

"I tried to contact Walmart thru your website; however, all I got was a reply saying my comments have been forwarded.

"St. Patrick’s Day is a holy day in Ireland. People usually start their day by attending mass. Some visit a St. Brigid’s Holy Well and spend the rest of the day with friends and family. Much like the way we celebrate Thanksgiving.

"All stereotypes are bad, regardless of what group they demean. Think of the thousands of job or housing opportunities have been lost because of them. Would you sell offensive stereotypical T-shirts for Dr. King Day, Puerto Rico Day, St. Joseph’s Day, etc. I find this merchandise offensive and ask them to remove them. Thank You."

Do you agree with a March boycott of Walmart by Irish Americans until they remove the shirts? Let us know in the comments section below.