Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) claimed earlier this week that recent closures of Walgreens in the Boston area were tied to racism.
Members of the far-left “squad” of Congressional Democrats accused the Illinois-based company of “life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination” over its decision to close a pharmacy in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood on Wednesday. accused of doing so. Mainly minority communities.
“Walgreens is closing yet another pharmacy in Massachusetts’ 7th District, this time on Warren Street in Roxbury, a community that is 85 percent black and Latino,” Pressley said in a Tuesday House address. He said this in a speech on the floor.
The 49-year-old lawmaker called the closures “part of a larger trend of abandoning low-income communities.” Refers to past Walgreens store closures. In her district.
“When Walgreens leave their neighborhoods, entire communities are disrupted, taking with them baby formula, diapers, asthma inhalers, life-saving medications, and, of course, jobs,” Pressley continued.
“These closures are not arbitrary and they are not innocent. These are life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination,” she argued.
Supported by fellow state Democrats senator elizabeth warren and ed markeyPressley said the Massachusetts Legislature is “demanding answers” from the company about its decision to close the Roxbury store.
“The Roxbury closures are due to several factors, including operating costs, low prescription volume, and low reimbursement rates,” a Walgreens corporate spokesperson told the Post, adding that the decision to close He said it was “difficult” but “needed given the current situation.” operating environment and our financial performance; ”
A company spokesperson said Walgreens is “committed to health equity” and that about half of its Boston-area stores are located in “traditionally underserved” areas. He pointed out that there was.
Walgreens delayed its Roxbury closure by two weeks and said it is working on “transportation solutions” for customers and will offer free same-day delivery for the next three months.
“We look forward to working with elected officials, community leaders and others to address the barriers that make it difficult to operate a pharmacy in various regions across the country.” a spokesperson said.
Walgreens did not specifically cite crime or retail theft as a reason for the Roxbury store’s closure. viral video The number of thieves ransacking the company’s stores across the country has sparked suspicions on social media.
Kevin Smith, host of the podcast Loud Majority Live, responded to Pressley’s comments by tweeting, “If you tell your friends to stop robbing stores, Walgreens might not leave your neighborhood.” did.
“Maybe we should defund the police a little bit more. Yes, that would definitely help,” said Patrick Byrne, former chairman and CEO of Overstock.com. I wrote to X.
“Okay @RepPressley, pass the hat and raise money to open a store at a Walgreens location. Let’s see how the race card works when people steal from you,” the conservative wrote. radio talk show host Larry Elder said on his show. ×post.
The National Retail Federation blamed “unprecedented levels” of theft for increased shrinkage rates (industry term for lost inventory) at retailers across the country.
industry association latest research The contraction rate for fiscal 2022 increased to 1.6% from 1.4% in the previous year, and the loss amounted to $112.1 billion.
Pressley said in a floor speech that Walgreens “isn’t enough to advocate for health equity and underserved communities.”
“Walgreens is a multi-billion dollar company that needs to put its money where its mouth is and stop divesting from black and brown communities,” she added.
“Shame on you, Walgreens.”
