Walgreens shut down its Roxbury store, blaming shoplifting and safety. Ayanna Pressley and others say it’s more than that. They see a wider retail struggle, hitting hard on minority areas. It’s a fight, they argue, between keeping shops safe and keeping them open where crime’s high. They see racism and class bias in these moves, hurting access to basics.
Roxbury’s mainly Black and Latino locals feel left out. They’re missing their only pharmacy. It was key for the old and everyone else, for meds and necessities. Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu sees the harm in losing such vital spots.
Beyond Theft?
Pressley, with Senators Warren and Markey, calls this discrimination. They say shutting these stores cuts off crucial supplies – like baby needs and medicines – and jobs. They stress, this risks lives, hitting Black and Latino neighborhoods hardest.
They note all closed stores were in these communities, showing a bias. Getting to another Walgreens now is tough, especially for the elderly or those less able.