Walmart pulls 'Rope. Tree. Journalist.' T-shirt after complaint

Arkansas-based Walmart has removed from its website a T-shirt suggesting violence against journalists after a media organization complained about it.

The shirt across the back read: "Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some assembly required." It was available on the retailing giant's website for $18.99 until the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) sent a letter asking for its removal.

The news organization said on its website Wednesday that the third-party seller who offered the shirt through Walmart also removed the item from its website.

Dan Shelley, executive director of RTDNA, said in the organization's web posting that the shirt's words "at the least ... inflame the passions of those who either don't like, or don't understand, the news media. At worst, they openly encourage violence targeting journalists."

In the letter sent to Walmart's Bentonville, Arkansas, corporate offices, Shelley said nearly three dozen journalists have been assaulted this year "merely for performing their Constitutionally-guaranteed duty to seek and report the truth."

Many, both inside and outside the media, denounced Walmart's decision to sell the shirt as word of its removal spread:

The T-shirt first gained attention last year when a supporter of President Donald Trump was spotted wearing it at a Minnesota rally for the then-GOP candidate:

After Walmart removed the shirt from its website, Shelley was grateful but still couldn't understand why it was offered.

"We are grateful for Walmart's swift action, but dismayed that it, and anyone else selling the shirt, would offer such an offensive and inflammatory product," Shelley said on the RTDNA website.

Walmart said in a statement to Arkansas Online: "This item was sold by a third-party seller on our marketplace and clearly violates our policy. We removed it as soon as it was brought to our attention, and are conducting a thorough review of the seller's assortment."