Pressley slams Walgreens closures: ‘Racial and economic discrimination’

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) called the pharmaceutical conglomerate Walgreens a “Black-American” after the company announced new store closures in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods in Massachusetts. “We have withdrawn from the dark-skinned and dark-skinned communities,” he said.

“When Walgreens leave their neighborhoods, they disrupt entire communities, taking with them baby formula, diapers, asthma inhalers, life-saving medications, and, of course, jobs,” Pressley said on the House floor this week. Ta. “These closures are not arbitrary and they are not innocent. These are life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination.”

Walgreens announced in June that it would close 150 stores across the U.S. due to declining revenue, CNN reported at the time.

But earlier this month, Pressley, along with fellow Massachusetts Democrats Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, sent a letter to Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth warning that stores in the state would be closed. It noted that the closures are occurring primarily in Black and Latino neighborhoods.

“Walgreens claims it is expanding its health care delivery efforts,” the Democrats wrote. “The choice to close several Walgreens stores in areas serving Black, brown, and low-income communities in Massachusetts and across the United States is a decision that will not provide communities with adequate notice, access, or alternative options. It betrays that goal and its stated commitment to improving the health of people across America by failing to deliver.”

Lawmakers argued that the closures are exacerbating problems of racial and economic discrimination, as well as a legacy of pharmacy and food deserts and a lack of reliable transportation.

In 2021, the University of Southern California published the following paper: study The study found that from 2007 to 2015, black and Latino neighborhoods in 30 U.S. cities had fewer pharmacies than white and diverse neighborhoods.

Presley expressed anger Tuesday over recent closures in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The area is 85% black and Latino, she said.

“Why wasn’t there any input from the community? Isn’t there enough notice to customers? And aren’t there transition resources to prevent health disparities?” Pressley said. “Shame on you, Walgreens.”

The Hill has reached out to Walgreens for comment.