Brothers and sisters, I know many of you have seen this over the past few days. It has really gotten to the point where Urban Outfitters has been getting the heat from the Irish Community and the Irish News Media both here and in Ireland. We need to get this defamation stopped immediately. Please call, email or demonstrate in front of their stores. I have written to the CEO, sent him an email and sent an email to their customer service dept in SC.
Here is all the information I have Please distribute it and use it so we can get what I asked for in my letter: Remove all the offending material from all stores and issue a public apology to the Irish people.
Urban Outfitters Inc
5000 S Broad St
Phila Pa 19112-1495
215-454-5500
The CEO and President is Richard A Hayne.
His email address is richard.hayne@urbanout.com
The website is www.urbanoutfittersinc.com
Please read the article below:
Mr Hayne, as the National President of the largest Irish American Organization in the United States, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, it is with great displeasure that I must write to you and ask that you immediately remove the disgusting products you have for sale in your stores depicting the Irish as drunks and defaming the Irish Nation and the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick.
St Patrick’s Day, March 17th, is a day when the Irish celebrate the patron saint of Ireland and yes we do celebrate in a respectful manner with many of us starting the day by attending Mass prior to marching in parades. There are those few who use this day as an excuse to over celebrate but that does not give you or anyone else the right to defame and debase a whole race of people by selling the garbage that you display in your stores.
For you or anyone else to have articles like the trucker’s cap depicting a drunk vomiting shamrocks or selling jugs such as the Leprechauns Piss Jug is culturally offensive and uncalled for. If this is the way you must make your money by debasing a whole race of people I can assure you that with over 40 million people in this country claiming Irish ancestry they will not be your customers after this display of arrogance and disrespect to a whole nation.
I ask, would you have the same type of garbage depicting the African American, Jewish or Muslim Nations emblazoned on your product? I think not. Why do it to the Irish? Perhaps it is because we are Catholic and you think you can get away with it, or is because you think we do not care about our heritage or perhaps because you just dont care about our nationality. Well Mr Hayne, we do care about our Heritage, our Religion and what the perception of us as a nation is, so I am sure you will be hearing from many more of our proud Irish American people throughout this country and abroad.
Thousands of our people shop at you stores throughout the country and with help of the news media, Irish and catholic organizations and the general public we will get the word out that Urban Outfitters does not have any respect for the Irish people or the Catholic Religion and we will ask them to Boycott your establishments.
If you have a change of heart and decide to do the right thing by immediately removing this offensive product from your stores please contact me and I will make sure that our people continue to shop your business.
Seamus Boyle National President
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc
