THURSDAY last day for eBay to feature McVeigh merchandise

<br>Thursday is the last day for the eBay Internet auction site to carry shirts or other items bearing the name or likeness of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. <br><br>The company is broadening a

Thursday, May 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Thursday is the last day for the eBay Internet auction site to carry shirts or other items bearing the name or likeness of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

The company is broadening a long-standing policy prohibiting items that promote or glorify hatred, violence or racial intolerance, or that promote organizations with such views, according to a message from eBay on its Website.

Kevin Pursglove, senior director of communication for eBay, said the move comes because of concerns over merchandise associated with notorious criminals and Nazi memorabilia.

``What we came to discover as eBay expands globally, we were encountering different definitions as to what was appropriate or what wasn't appropriate,'' Pursglove said. ``We came to the conclusion that we would combine them and take care of them all at once.''

About 40 items related to McVeigh were up for auction Thursday morning.

Most will be removed, but Pursglove said non-inflammatory McVeigh items, such as documentaries and books, will be allowed to stay on the site.

Although the move comes the day after McVeigh had been scheduled to die for the Oklahoma City bombing, Pursglove said the May 17 date was not taken into consideration when choosing their policy change date.

The old policy allowed shirts and hate items if they were at least 50 years old and would be considered historical objects.

The new rules include prohibiting personal belongings, letters and artwork created by individuals, as well as novelty items bearing their names and images.

McVeigh was convicted in 1997 of the bombing that killed 168 people and injured more than 500 others.