"Sears Canada does not and would not ever putanything like that on our website" - Brandon Stranzl, Sears Canada Executive Chairman

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies is pleased to reportthat as of this morning it appears Sears Holdings USA has disengaged the"Free Palestine" shirts it was selling on sears.com. While some of the shirts still appear on its website, the page is "nolonger available" to purchase when the product is clicked upon.

The success of this campaign is the result ofintensive national pressure and awareness from our community at large, includingthousands of requests through the FSWC online petition, the Simon WiesenthalCenter USA, our direct communication with management and independent andintensive activity on behalf of many community members. 

In communication late last night with FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo,Sears Canada Executive Chairman Brandon Stranzl confirmed that Sears Canadanever had the item for sale in any store or online in Canada and apologized forany confusion. He explained that,"Sears Holdings in the USA is a totally separate company from SearsCanada," butpromised to reach out to them. "I am very pleased with Mr. Stranzl’s genuine reply;his pledge to never put anything like this on the Sears Canada website and hiscontinued responsiveness." 

FSWC will continue monitoring the sears.com website to ensure all elements of the"Free Palestine" shirt are removed. In the meantime, we willinvestigate some other areas brought to our attention in this regard. Weask our members and the community at large to continue to remainvigilant. "I am very proud of so many people for stepping into thiscampaign and helping bring about success," said Benlolo.

UPDATE: Walmart has joined sears.com in removing all "Free Palestine" items from their Canadian and American websites.