The recent closing of a Boston-area Walgreens is tied to racism, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) claimed earlier this week.
Members of the far-left “Squad” of congressional Democrats accused the Illinois-based company of engaging in “life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination” over its decision to close a pharmacy Wednesday in Boston’s minority-majority Roxbury neighborhood. society.
“Walgreens plans to close another pharmacy on Massachusetts 7th. This time on Warren Street in Roxbury – a community that is 85% black and Latino,” Pressley said during a speech on the House floor on Tuesday.
The 49-year-old lawmaker called the closings “part of a larger trend of leaving low-income communities,” pointing to previous Walgreens store closings in his district.
“When Walgreens leaves a neighborhood, they disrupt the entire community and they take with them baby formula, diapers, asthma inhalers, life-saving medications, and, of course, jobs,” Pressley continued.
“This closure is not arbitrary and they are innocent. It is an act of racial and economic discrimination that threatens lives,” he claimed.
Pressley accused Walgreens of “life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination” after it closed stores in his district. AP
Retailers have reported increasing levels of theft in recent years. Reuters
Backed by fellow Democrats Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Pressley said Massachusetts lawmakers are “demanding answers” from the company about its decision to close stores in Roxbury.
“The closure of Roxbury is due to a number of factors including operating costs, low prescription volume and low reimbursement rates,” a Walgreens corporate spokesperson told The Post, calling the decision to close the store “difficult” but necessary “due to the current environment. our operations and financial performance.”
A company spokesperson noted that Walgreens is “committed to health equity,” pointing out that about half of the company’s Boston-area stores are located in “traditionally underserved” neighborhoods.
Walgreens said it is pushing back the Roxbury closure for two weeks and is working on a “transportation solution” for customers and offering 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 for us to operate pharmacies in various communities across the country,” the spokesperson said.
Walgreens did not specifically name crime or retail theft as the reason for the Roxbury closings, but viral videos of thieves ransacking the company’s stores across the country have raised suspicions on social media.
“Maybe tell your friends to stop shoplifting and Walgreens won’t leave the neighborhood,” Kevin Smith, host of the “Loud Majority Live” podcast, tweeted in response to Pressley’s statement.
“Maybe we should deny the police again. Yeah yeah, that might help.” Patrick Byrne, former chairman and CEO of Overstock.com, writes in X.
“Alright @RepPressley, pass the cap, raise the money and put a store in a Walgreens location. Let’s see how the race card works when people steal from you,” said conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder in an X post.
The National Retail Federation has blamed “unprecedented levels of theft” for the rising rate of shrinkage – the industry term for lost inventory – at retailers across the country.
The trade group’s latest study found that the rate of depreciation increased to 1.6% in fiscal year 2022, up from 1.4% the previous year, amounting to a $112.1 billion loss.
In his floor speech, Pressley said Walgreens’ “discussion of health equity and underserved communities is inadequate.”
“Walgreens is a multi-billion dollar company that needs to put their money where their mouth is and stop alienating Black and brown communities,” he added.
“Shame on you, Walgreens.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
