Walmart yanks boots emblazoned with 'KKK' from online store

Walmart this week removed from its online store a set of boots that had been emblazoned with "KKK," claiming that a seller unaffiliated with the company had uploaded it to the marketplace. 

The boots were being sold by the company Harsuny and were advertised as "tactical military hiking" footwear.

Walmart subsequently removed the product from its website, claiming a third-party vendor had uploaded the boots to its "marketplace."

"Like other major retailers, we operate an online marketplace that allows third-party sellers to offer merchandise to customers through our eCommerce platform," the company told media.

"We have a process in place designed to prevent third party sellers from offering inappropriate items on our platform. Still, at times, inappropriate items make their way onto our platform."

"KKK" is generally understood in the United States as a reference to the Ku Klux Klan, the white supremacist terrorist organization that has carried out attacks and intimidation campaigns multiple times throughout U.S. history.