The maker of Tiki Torches has denounced the use of their products by white nationalists in Charlottesville last weekend at a rally.
The white nationalist protesters used garden torches designed to deter mosquitoes and provide light in back gardens as they marched through the University of Virginia campus on Friday night.
The march was a warm-up for a wider “Unite the Right” event on Saturday which drew protesters against the planned removal of a confederate statue of General Robert E Lee, and counter-protesters who also took to the streets.
(Konoplytska/Getty Images/PA)
One company particularly associated with this type of lighting, Tiki Brand Products, felt the use of their products by the white nationalist marchers needed to be addressed.
TIKI Brand is not associated in any way with the events that took place in Charlottesville and are deeply saddened and…
Posted by TIKI Brand Products on Saturday, August 12, 2017
In a statement released on Facebook, the company stated:
“TIKI Brand is not associated in any way with the events that took place in Charlottesville and are deeply saddened and disappointed.
“We do not support their message or the use of our products in this way. Our products are designed to enhance backyard gatherings and to help family and friends connect with each other at home in their yard.”
Some have compared the company’s words on the Charlottesville protests to President Donald Trump’s.
Bravo to @tikibrand condemning the vile use of their beautiful torches. Silence is acceptance. I will support this brand for being loud.
— Maysoon Zayid (@maysoonzayid) August 13, 2017
That moment when TIKI Brand Products make a stronger statement against neo-nazis than the President of the United States…
— Lindsey Zolna 🏳️🌈 (@Linds_Zolna) August 14, 2017
Trump condemned what he called an “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides”, but did not call out white supremacists specifically.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here