Largest US Police Union Pressures Retailers to Drop Black Lives Matter Shirts

The largest police union in the United States is attacking the Black Lives Matter, BLM, movement in a new way: pressuring retailers to stop selling shirts with BLM slogans .

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After the Fraternal Order of Police, FOP, successfully pressured Wal-Mart to stop third-party sales of shirts that read “Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter,” it now has its sights set on Amazon.

FOP President Chuck Canterbury appealed to Wal-Mart Thursday, saying the shirts were “offensive.” The shirts were removed for sale the very same day.

"I am concerned that allowing these articles to be sold in this way will damage your company's good name amongst FOP members and other active and retired law enforcement officers," Canterbury wrote. "Commercializing our differences will not help our local police and communities to build greater trust and respect for one another."

He said the issue was relevant because BLM has incited violence against police, although none of the killers of cops that were assassinated in high-profile cases such as those in Dallas and Baton Rouge this year, were affiliated with BLM.

Amazon has not yet responded to the FOP’s request.

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Wal-Mart’s third-party retailer, Old Glory, has also pulled the shirts, but for issues of profitability.

"It wasn't a big seller at all," Old Glory owner Glenn Morelli told CNN. "The Blue Lives Matter sells more than the Black Lives Matter or bulletproof shirts combined. We don't like to offend anybody."

The FOP has stated they will continue pressure retailers to drop the shirts, “until Black Lives Matter makes statements that they do not approve of violence”.

Wal-mart will, however, continue to sell merchandise that says simply “Black Lives Matter.”

"Like other online retailers, we have a marketplace with millions of items offered by third parties that includes Blue Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter merchandise," Walmart said in a statement. "After hearing concerns from customers, we are removing the specific item with the 'bulletproof' reference."