Group Decries Urban Outfitters T-Shirt

Yahoo ^ | July 22, 2005 | Deborah Yao

[Enterprise1788]

PHILADELPHIA - The Anti-Defamation League has asked retailer Urban Outfitters to stop selling a T-shirt that reads: "New Mexico, Cleaner than Regular Mexico."

"This is saying that the country of Mexico is a dirty place," said Barry Morrison, regional director of the civil rights group. "Dirty can be interpreted figuratively and literally."

The group wants the Philadelphia-based retailer to get rid of all its inventory.

Urban Outfitters did not immediately return calls for comment Friday. The retailer, which targets 18- to 30-year-olds, has run into similar controversy before.

Two years ago, it stopped selling a game called "Ghettopoly" after protests by black civil rights leaders. Last year, it halted sales of a T-shirt that read "Everyone Loves A Jewish Girl," surrounded by dollar signs, after the Anti-Defamation League objected.

A "Voting is for Old People" T-shirt angered pro-voting groups.

Urban Outfitters operates 77 stores in the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. This year, first-quarter profits rose by 60 percent to $27.4 million, compared to the same period a year ago.

[Enterprise1788]

I think the Anti-Defamation League needs to find better things to do with their time.

[thoughtomator]

I gotta get that shirt before they pull it from the stores.

[Echo Talon]

LOL! Well thats why its called New Mexico...

[durasell]

Knock off of the A&F t-shirts that got them in trouble.

[sheik yerbouty]

They have their heads up their nether passages..

[SouthernFreebird]

OMG...lol that's kinda funny and so frikkin sad that a joke can't be had anymore.

[SpaceBar]

There's a new Mexico?

[tet68]

It's , I say it's a joke son.

A takeoff on gasolene advertising and quite clever too.

I grow weary of PC enforcement.

[Clemenza]

"New Mexico, Cleaner than Regular Mexico."

Guess they've never driven down ol'66 through Albuquerque or through certain parts of Las Cruces.

[river rat]

I guess the ADL hasn't been to Mexico lately...

Perhaps they've lost their ability to smell or see..


Semper Fi

[Revolting cat!]

This is clean?

[Prime Choice]

"This is saying that the country of Mexico is a dirty place," said Barry Morrison, regional director of the civil rights group. "Dirty can be interpreted figuratively and literally."

Well...it is!

Oh...silly me...can't have something like truth interfering with the oh-so-sacred political correctness, now can we?

[SteveMcKing]

As defamation is speech, why do they not call themselves what they are, the "Anti-Speech-We-Don't-Like League"?

Because-- their game is one of fraud and politics (not to be resundant by putting those together...).

[digitalbrownshirt]

I've been to Mexico and New Mexico. New Mexico is cleaner.
Barely.

[Psycho_Bunny]

An official with the Anti-Defamation League wants the retailer to stop selling the shirt -- because "WHAAAAAAAAAAAA."

[T Minus Four]

The Mexican Litter Problem

[Fixit]

I'd seen this one on the web but I had no idea it was sold in retail stores as well...

[OldFriend]

Both New and old Mexico are cleaner than Philly.

[inquest]

"This is saying that the country of Mexico is a dirty place," said Barry Morrison, regional director of the civil rights group.

Hey libs: It's called "Speaking Truth to Power". ;-)

Honestly, I wonder if anyone else can appreciate the rich irony in seeing "civil rights" groups trying to silence messages that make them uncomfortable.

A "Voting is for Old People" T-shirt angered pro-voting groups.

Hey, that one's OK. Anything that keeps the mindless MTV crowd away from the polls can't be that bad.

[Restorer]

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=9042&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=9042