Amazon’s response to the Kyrie Irving-created controversy has been nothing short of pathetic. 

Irving is currently suspended by the Nets for sending out a tweet about the anti-Semitic film, “Hebrew to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” and then proceeding to show no immediate contrition. 

Meanwhile, Amazon, billed as the “Everything Store,” has stayed silent and customers can still fill up their digital carts, including with the movie Irving promoted and the book upon which it was based. 

Paper towels? Check. New shoes? Check. Holocaust-denying books and films? Check. 

Irving earned what he has gotten, because if he simply had just said he was sorry and disavowed the anti-Semitic views in the film, he probably would still be in the Nets’ lineup. 

Irving began the firestorm by tweeting to his 4.6 million followers. He publicized the film, but offered no comment. Irving has the power of a star athlete, but he is not Amazon, a company worth nearly a trillion dollars. 

How is it OK for them not to comment? 

Why is it that only Irving receives consequences? They are, deserved, but Amazon is in every business, including sports. Shouldn’t they have to answer? 

Amazon did not return messages for this column and I even asked for the person in charge of anti-Semitic films that Amazon sells. 

Irving sits out, while Amazon continues business as usual. Its founder, Jeff Bezos, goes on his merry way. 

Just recently, Amazon Prime Video completed a deal to stream NBA games in Brazil. In a couple of years, there is a pretty good chance that Amazon Prime Video might be streaming NBA games in the United States. 

Bezos is reportedly interested in buying the Washington Commanders. Shouldn’t the NBA and NFL ask him why Amazon is selling movies and books based in anti-Semitism? 

The Wall Street Journal reported that the 2018 documentary, “Hebrew to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” which is based on a 2015 book by the same name, was originally uploaded under the Amazon Prime Video Direct program, which allows filmmakers and content creators (in this case, Ronald Dalton Jr., also the author of the book) to display their own works and then split the money with the company. 

That is how Amazon tries to wash its hands of responsibility, as if it were some mom-and-pop operation without the manpower to actually not sell anti-Semitic materials. The New York Times reported that the film may receive a disclaimer that customers will see when people buy it. 

The silence from Amazon is striking. Its solution appears to be to run out the clock and have people move on. The Nets and the Anti-Defamation League, according to The Times, have asked Amazon to remove the materials or include some sort of disclaimer. No one should have had to ask. 

Amazon has generally chosen not to take down offensive content, dating back to its origins. “As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to the written word is important including content that may be considered objectionable,” reads a policy listed on its site. 

That made a little more sense before a digital world that Amazon dominates came into being. The “Everything Store” creates incredible power to distribute, be it products or, in this case, ideas in just a click and have them spread like wildfire all over the world. 

While it is true that dissent is healthy, hate and lies are not. There is no other side of whether or not the Holocaust happened, just six million dead. 

With Irving’s tweet and Amazon’s inaction, the film and book have shot up the platform’s rankings. Amazon is spreading falsehoods and hate by hosting both on its powerful platform that is easily accessed by nearly the entire world. 

Everyone involved at Amazon, from Bezos to CEO Andy Jassy might want to heed the famous words attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller following the Holocaust. 

First they came for the Communists 

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Communist 

Then they came for the Socialists 

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Socialist 

Then they came for the trade unionists 

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a trade unionist 

Then they came for the Jews 

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Jew 

Then they came for me 

And there was no one left 

To speak out for me 

Amazon, it is time to speak out.