Petition demands Amazon stop selling 'offensive' election-related products
About 1,300 people have backed Change.org campaign targeting offensive flags, other items
Article content
Just over 1,300 people have signed a petition on Change.org urging Amazon to cease the sale of offensive products related to Canada’s federal election.
The Change.org petition highlights items such as flags with the phrase “F— Carney,” which petition starter Helen Lemon believes fuel division and undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Petition demands Amazon stop selling 'offensive' election-related products Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“Amazon, a global leader in e-commerce, plays a significant role in this disturbing trend,” she writes.
“It offers a platform where such inappropriate products can be bought and sold effortlessly. I believe this practice goes against the principles of respect, decency, and fairness that we, as Canadians, uphold.”
Lemon emphasizes that the petition is not about limiting freedom of speech, but rather about “promoting decency, respect, and fairness in a democratic society.
“Companies like Amazon should be leading the charge against such discourse, not permitting and profiting from it,” added Lemon.
“Signs and other items with hateful and derogatory messaging, such as “F— Carney,” should not be sold or displayed anywhere in Canada.”
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Lemon cites a 2020 report published by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation that says hate speech in Canada has increased by 600% in recent years.
“It also contradicts Amazon’s own community guidelines, which stress respect and dignity for all,” says Lemon. “We call on Amazon to take a stand against hate speech and derogatory messaging by banning the sale of these offensive election signs and products on its platform.”
A spokesperson for Amazon Canada said the company offers products with a “broad range of viewpoints, including products that may be disagreeable, and we have guidance for our customers and selling partners about the items allowed for sale in our store.
“In this instance we concluded that these products did not breach our policies,” Octavia Roufogalis said.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.