TROOP

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Troop

Troop Sport was a clothing company founded in 1985 by two Jewish brothers, Teddy and Harvey Held, and a Korean, Howard Kim. The clothing line was intended to target young men in urban areas, particularly those who were Latino and African-American. The company went bankrupt and had its reputation hurt after rumors spread that company was actually owned by the Ku Klux Klan (similar rumors have been made about popular companies such as drink company Snapple and shoe company Timberland as well), and that the name stood for “To Rule Over Oppressed People.” Additional rumors claimed that rapper LL Cool J appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” urging viewers to protest the company. The rumors about the connection to the Klan hurt sales and the company declared bankruptcy several years later.

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