Is Walgreens the new Sackler Family? It may seem like a harsh comparison, but it appears that Walgreens is making business decisions to deny women access to medication abortions — a decision that runs counter to the health needs and interests of female consumers of childbearing age. Walgreens has buckled under antiabortion pressure by refusing to sell abortion medication in 24 states. Some of those states, including Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, and Montana, still have legal abortion. We now know where Walgreens stands on women’s health. At best, Walgreens’ decision is capricious and demonstrates a shockingly fickle concern for the well-being and peace of mind of its female customers. At worst, Walgreens position is potentially life-threatening for women of childbearing age who, for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to carry a pregnancy to term and are forced to look beyond their trusted pharmacy for help. Would Wallgreens stop selling Voxelotor because of pressure from racist groups like the Proud Boys because sickle cell anemia largely affects African Americans and people of color? Would Walgreens halt the sales of PrEP because anti-gay groups don’t care about preventing HIV? And to please the right-wing antisemitic groups out there, will the company withhold anticonvulsant medication for Jewish babies born with Tay-Sachs? What kind of business is Walgreens in? Health care or not? I will encourage everyone I know and love to boycott Walgreens until the company reverses its position and respects women’s health choices and needs. I hope Walgreens will. They most certainly can. I hope others will choose to shop elsewhere until then.

Jo Ellen Warner

Amherst

]]>