Amazon was criticized for a racist 'Black Lives Don't Matter' cap listing

• Amazon has removed a racist cap with the slogan “Black Lives Don’t Matter” from its website after multiple complaints.
• The third-party seller described the hat as a “nice present.”
• Attorney Alexandra Wilson, from Essex, England, described the listing as “honestly embarrassing” for Amazon in a social media post. The group Black and Asian Lawyers For Justice called the cap "blatant fascist ideological propaganda."
• An Amazon spokesperson said that sellers who don’t follow its guidelines “will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”

Twitter users have slammed Amazon over a racist hat with the slogan "Black Lives Don't Matter" that was listed on its site.

The product was listed as "Black Lives Matter BLM Sport Baseball Hat," and its description did not quote the racist slogan — Twitter users suspect this may be how it bypassed Amazon's algorithms.

The third-party seller, IMERIOi, said it would make a "nice present." They described the design as "unique and fashionable" and said the hat was "eye catching" and "elegant." The hat featured two crosses in place of the two letter T's in the word "matter."

Numerous people complained about the trucker hat, which was listed for £12.96 ($16.56), before Amazon removed it from the site.

Attorney Alexandra Wilson, from Essex, England, posted a screenshot of the hat on Twitter, saying that "THIS IS NOT OK." It was "embarrassing" that Amazon was selling it, she said.

Wilson posted the Tweet on Saturday, and by Monday the hat was no longer available on the site. The seller's page had also been taken down.

Dozens of other Twitter users expressed their shock, describing the cap as "racist garbage" and questioning how Amazon hadn't removed it sooner.

The group Black and Asian Lawyers For Justice called the hat "blatant fascist ideological propaganda."

Another Twitter user said that the sale of the hat "is causing deep upset and disgust to many people working towards racial justice and unity around the world."

Amazon needs 'better checks'

After Amazon removed the hat, Wilson told The Independent that Amazon needed "better checks in place for both their descriptions and photos because this isn't the first time something like this has happened."

In Amazon's "Offensive and Controversial Materials" policy, the e-commerce giant says it "does not allow products that promote, incite or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance, or promote organizations with such views." Amazon says that when sellers violate this policy, it will take actions including immediate suspension, destroying inventory in its fulfillment centers without reimbursement, and terminating its business relationship with the seller.

An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider: "All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account. The product in question is no longer available."

In August, David Lammy, the UK shadow justice secretary, took to Twitter to question Amazon about a pair of boots that included racist language in the description.

Lammy said: "Just buying brown brogues tonight leads to this racist micro aggression. Is it 2020 or 1720? Please ⁦@amazon⁩ take it down."

Amazon removed the shoes within two hours but Lammy said that the item had been on sale since March, and questioned the e-commerce giant about its systems for blocking racist listings.

Last week, Amazon came under fire after a third-party seller listed T-shirts with the slogan "Let's Make Down Syndrome Extinct." Amazon removed the product after complaints and a petition that more than 25,000 people signed.