Newsom reminds businesses that they need to take into account big blue states too
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday the state will not be doing business with Walgreens Boots Alliance over its decision not to dispense an abortion pill.
Last week, the national pharmacy chain said it would not distribute mifepristone in 20 states after conservative attorneys general threatened legal action.MORE: USPS is allowed to continue delivering abortion pills, Justice Department says
In a tweet, Newsom criticized the decision, writing, “California won’t be doing business with Walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk. We’re done.”
In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for Newsom said the state was “reviewing” its relationship with Walgreens.
“We will not pursue business with companies that cave to right wing bullies pushing their extremist agenda or companies that put politics above the health of women and girls,” the statement read.
Last month, the group of attorneys general sent a letter to CVS and Walgreens saying that if they sold mifepristone, they would be in violation of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that makes it illegal to send contraceptives, substances that induce abortion, pornographic content, sex toys and any written material about these items.
Several of the states that signed the letter — including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana — currently allow abortion access, including abortion medication, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group focusing on sexual and reproductive health.
In a statement to ABC News last week, Walgreens said it sent a letter to each of the attorneys general confirming it would not sell mifepristone in their states
“From the outset, we have made our intentions clear to become a certified pharmacy to distribute mifepristone wherever legally possible,” a spokesperson said about the Newsom decision.
These throwback Republican state governments don’t get to dictate what Democratic states do. it’s bad enough they have an antediluvian Supreme Court taking away rights, now they think they can threaten businesses with the Comstock act if they follow state laws? This is getting ridiculous.
Good for Newsom for standing up for women. If companies like Walgreens are caving to threats from these extremists normal people have no choice but to fight back. Hard.