GAP Emails Apology to AIM

Boycott Continues

Mike Mohan, publisher in Native Challenges. Discussion »

SAN FRANCISCO – When Mari Reprado, a Northern California representative of AIM delivered the demand letter yesterday to the Gap Headquarters, Gap representative Debbie Mesloh, acknowledged that despite media and news claims, no formal apology had been issued. By early evening pacific time, Gap sent AIM So Cal an apology by email.

Gap Demand Letter

The GAP representative Mesloh reported that The GAP is no longer selling the "Manifest Destiny" t-shirts online or in stores. In a visit to a suburban Detroit Gap store late yesterday afternoon, the Native News Network was able to confirm the t-shirt had been removed from store shelves. The four other offending designs do however remain for sale. However, the Native News Network had still found at least one image of a GAP model wearing the t-shirt on the company's facebook page yesterday, a quick search today finds the company has changed out the entire facebook page.

The GAP apology email titled "Statement from Gap" reads:

"We're sincerely sorry for the offense that the 'Manifest Destiny' t-shirt may have caused. This shirt was part of the partnership between Gap and GQ featuring new designers and was never meant to be insensitive.

Because of your feedback, we made the decision to no longer sell the t-shirt as soon as it was brought to our attention. The t-shirt has been removed from Gap.com and we are in the process of removing it from our stores. We are also focusing on how we select product designs for these types of partnerships in the future. Thank you for your continued feedback; we're always listening."

“What you (designer Mark McNairy) did and how Gap endorsed it is not acceptable.”

Corine Fairbanks, AIM So Cal Director and Native News Network contributor stated.

“We feel that their apology is not enough. We want him (McNairy) fired and other shirts taken out.”

Fairbanks continued,

The original controversial "Manifest Destiny" t-shirt promotes an ideology that resulted in the mass genocide of indigenous people. In reaction to the selling of this shirt by GAP, AIM communicated the issue to their network of Natives and allies.

AIM So Cal is maintaining their stance and calls to action all supporters of this cause.

posted October 17, 2012 11:40 am edt