A target in Utah has been evacuated and an explosives disposal squad has been called in after multiple threats were made against stores in the state and five in Ohio after the company’s annual Pride collection made waves.
A Layton Target – located at 810 West 2000 North – was evacuated after receiving multiple bomb threats. According to police, an explosive ordnance disposal squad and a K9 unit were dispatched to the store around 1 p.m. KUTV.
All employees and customers were directed to the parking lot.
Stores in Layton, Salt Lake, Taylorsville and Provo were threatened, police said. Authorities became aware of the threats after local news outlets received emails threatening danger and referring to the company’s new controversial Pride collection.
Five targets in northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were also threatened, according to Cleveland 19who received a threatening email targeting stores in Stow, North Canton, Boardman, Niles, Ohio, and Monaca, Pennsylvania.
A Layton Target – located at 810 West 2000 North – was evacuated after receiving multiple bomb threats. At around 1 p.m., an explosive ordnance disposal squad and a K9 unit were dispatched to the store
Stores in Layton, Salt Lake, Taylorsville and Provo were threatened, police said. Authorities became aware of the threats after local news outlets received emails threatening danger and referencing the company’s controversial Pride news collection
Target is full [redacted] cowards who turned their backs on the LGBT community and decided to cater to homophobic right-wingers, rednecks, bigots, who protested and smashed up their shop,” the email to Cleveland 19 read. .
“We are sending you a message, we have placed a bomb in the following targets,” the email continued. “We will continue bombarding your targets until you stop cringing and return your LBGT merchandise.
“We will not be erased, we will not go quietly.”
Cleveland 19 reported the threatening email to all local police departments and the FBI.
Layton Police Sergeant John Ottesen told KUTV that the Utah threats came from a “fake email address.”
Target announced earlier this week that some products would be removed from their Pride collection.
Five targets in Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were also threatened, according to Cleveland 19, which received a threatening email targeting stores in Stow, North Canton, Boardman, Niles, Ohio and Monaca, Pennsylvania
The emailer accused Target of being “cowards” and said they will keep bombarding your Targets until you stop cringing and return your LBGT merchandise. We won’t be erased, we won’t go quietly’
It was after a series of angry moms took to Twitter and TikTok to complain. In recent weeks, the retail giant has been taunted by families — especially mothers — for throwing transgender clothing, books and greeting cards into its stores.
Outrage and confusion ensued over a range of “pleat-friendly” women’s swimsuits. The company released a statement to insist that the suits were only available in adult sizes.
“Since the introduction of this year’s collection, we have faced threats that affect our team members’ sense of safety and well-being at work,” Target said in a statement.
“Given these volatile conditions, we are adjusting our plans, including removing items that were central to the most significant confrontation behavior,” said crisis communications manager Kayla Castaneda.
The company did not specify which items were pulled from its shelves. Many of the bathing suits, rompers and t-shirts that sparked outrage remain available online.
There is also growing outrage over the collaboration with Eric Cullen, a British transgender man, whose Abprallen brand celebrates Satanism.
Target announced earlier this week that some products would be removed from their Pride collection
Outrage and confusion ensued over a range of women’s “crease-friendly” swimsuits
Target sells two items from the brand: a $25 slogan jumper with the words “cure transphobia not trans people” wrapped around a sword, an $18 “too queer for here” tote bag, and a “we belong everywhere” bum bag which is now sold out.
Eric – a transgender man – proudly shared photos of the collaboration on Instagram.
“These have already enraged the transphobes at me and I feel like a real celebrity for thinking that they believe this is all one big conspiracy and that I have the power to brainwash anyone if I’m just a guy drawing pictures! ‘ he said.
A closer look at his other work reveals more sinister material.
These include badges with slogans such as ‘Satan Respects Pronouns’, ‘Young, Queer and Willing’ and a lighter pin with the words ‘burn down the cis-tem’.
He also models the “Satan respects pronouns” T-shirt on an Instagram page while wearing BDSM style horns and no pants.