Members of the Rockland Irish American community are once again planning to protest at the Palisades Center Mall, in West Nyack, NY, where t-shirts with raunchy humor, sexual slogans and references to excessive inebriation are on sale in the name of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Ancient Order of the Hibernians is protesting Spencer’s in particular for their St. Patrick’s Day products including t-shirts with the slogan “Rub My Shamrocks for Luck,” “Irish Girl Wasted,” and other slogans including profanities.
Last year, following protests by the Irish American group, the Rockland County Legislature passed a resolution calling for the mall management to pull offending items from the shelves. Lawmakers are once again asking management to get involved.
Spencer’s has more than 600 stores across the United States including those in White Plains and Yonkers. The Irish group feel that the lifestyle and gag gift retailer is mocking Irish culture and feeds into stereotypes, according to the Journal News.
Anti-Defamation chairperson of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Neil Cosgrove, said, “This has gone way beyond a St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt with beer mugs.
“They are just pushing the bounds more and more.”
“You don’t see other ethnic groups targeted like this,” he added.
The AOH protest is planned for 11.15am on Friday ( in the parking lot of the ShopRite at 243 Route 59 in West Nyack). Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians and Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City will be in attendance.
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