After a recent conflict in which Target issued an apology for labeling a plus-sized dress “manatee gray” on its website—it was later changed to “heather gray”—a group of outraged manatees has formed a coalition it calls “Manatees Are Mammals Too” to protest the change.
“We feel incredibly silenced by this show of prejudice,” said Manuela Seacow, spokesperson for the organization. “When a bunch of human women put up a fuss, Target is quick to apologize, but invalidate an entire culture of sea creatures and we’re just supposed to sit idly by?”
According to marine biologist Joe Sands, this move is nearly unprecedented because manatees are typically very solitary creatures in the wild.
“They must feel very strongly about this cause,” Sands said.
On its website, MAMT said it is calling for a complete boycott of all Target products until the company restores the color to its original name and starts using more species-inclusive language on its products. Target has not released a statement responding to these demands.
