Walgreens closing stores in areas with high theft rates, including Roxbury, has sparked criticism from Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who accused the chain of racial and economic discrimination.
Pressley’s comments on the House floor highlighted the impact on communities and the lack of community input in the closures.
However, it was noted that Walgreens is automatically transferring patient files and offering free same-day delivery of prescriptions for 90 days.
.@Walgreens' closures of pharmacies in Roxbury, Mattapan & Hyde Park are not arbitrary or innocent.
They are disruptive, life-threatening acts of racial & economic discrimination.
As a multi-billion-dollar corporation, they must stop divesting from Black & brown communities. pic.twitter.com/iSvhFWw8Bl
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 31, 2024
“This closure is a part of a larger trend of abandoning low-income communities like the previous closures in Mattapan and Hyde Park,” Pressley said.
“When a Walgreens leaves a neighborhood, they disrupt the entire community,” she added. “And they take with them baby formula, diapers, asthma inhalers, life-saving medications and, of course, jobs.
“These closures are not arbitrary and they are not innocent. They are life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination.”
“Why was there no community input? No adequate notice to customers?” she said. “And no transition resources to prevent gaps in health care? Shame on you, Walgreens.”
“Having a website with talking points about health equity and underserved communities is not enough,” Pressley said. “Walgreens is a multibillion-dollar corporation that needs to put their money where their mouth is and stop divesting from black and brown communities.”
Notably, CrimeGrade.org data indicated high theft rates in the affected neighborhoods.
Critics suggested that protesting at Pressley’s office or voting for better representation might yield more effective results.
“Your chance of being a victim of theft in Roxbury may be as high as 1 in 29 in the northwest neighborhoods,” an analysis stated.
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