Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom forcefully criticized Walgreens over its new plan to stop shipping and selling abortion pills in some states after 20 state attorneys general sent a letter warning about the policy.
Walgreens made the announcement on Friday that its stores in 20 states would not sell abortion pills.
“We intend to be a certified pharmacy and will distribute Mifepristone only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible,” read a statement from the company.
Pro-abortion advocates said they would boycott the company over the decision, while pro-life advocates praised the decision.
Newsom issued a fiery tweet on Monday excoriating the company for caving to the demands from 20 state attorneys.
“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,” he tweeted.
A spokesperson for Rite Aid told CNN that it was “monitoring” the developments related to abortion pill providers.
“Rite Aid is monitoring the latest federal, state, legal and regulatory developments regarding mifepristone dispensing and we will continue to evaluate the Company’s ability to dispense mifepristone in accordance with those developments,” said Catherine Carter.
Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson told KRON-TV that Walgreens was avoiding taking a political stand in favor of limiting its legal exposure.
“I think it’s taking a very kind of litigation-averse stance here,” she explained, “and saying, ‘We’re not gonna take a political stand, we’re not gonna take a stand in favor of women being able to have access to these pills. Instead what we’re gonna try to do is make sure that we’re not sued and that we don’t face any legal challenge.'”
The issue may eventually have to be decided by the Supreme Court, but pro-abortion activists fear the opinion of the court that struck down the Roe vs. Wade decision that originally created the federal right to abortion.
“What Walgreens is basically telling us is that they don’t want to get involved and I think they want to see how this plays out legally speaking,” she added.
Here’s more about Newsom’s command:
Newsom cuts ties with Walgreens over abortion pillswww.youtube.com
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