Sears Pulls Controversial Ashli Babbitt 'Patriot' T-Shirt

Arlington Heights IL

09 July, 2021

11:34 AM

Description

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL — Following backlash on social media, retailers Sears and Kmart have stopped selling a controversial T-shirt referencing a woman fatally shot during the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Sears, based in Hoffman Estates, apologized on Twitter for a shirt that labeled Ashli Babbitt an "American Patriot." Babbitt was the lone rioter killed by police during the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was fatally shot while attempting to breach a set of doors with other rioters in the U.S. Capitol. During a presidential-style press conference Wednesday, former President Donald Trump said there was "no reason" for Babbitt to have been shot, reports the Washington Post. Sears and Kmart are owned by Transformco, with corporate headquarters at 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates. Aaron Rupar, a journalist at Vox, tweeted at Sears on Thursday regarding the T-shirt, and the company responded that the shirt was no longer available. Thank you for bringing this product to our attention. This item is no longer available for purchase on https://t.co/X2bSIlvdyK or https://t.co/XcgrhIoktX.— Sears (@Sears) July 6, 2021 RELATED: Slain Rioter's Family Files $10M Lawsuit Against Capitol PoliceUS Capitol Officer Cleared In Death Of Former Annapolis Resident