Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:36:37 GMT From: NARAL Pro-Choice America <can at ProChoiceAmerica.org>
WAL-MART AGREES TO CARRY EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN ALL STORES
For years, Wal-Mart - the nation's largest retail pharmacy - refused even to stock emergency contraception (also known as the "morning-after" pill). But that all started to change when three brave women in Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart for this discriminatory policy, prompting the state of Massachusetts to require Wal-Mart to stock the morning-after pill in that state.
Now, Wal-Mart is rewriting its policy for all its pharmacies - read their own words:
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"We expect more states to require us to sell emergency contraceptives in the months ahead," said Ron Chomiuk, Vice President of Pharmacy for Wal-Mart. "Because of this, and the fact that this is an FDA-approved product, we feel it is difficult to justify being the country's only major pharmacy chain not selling it."
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More than 30,000 of our activists signed our petition to Wal-Mart. There's no doubt your voices made a difference.
It's not over, though. This decision is a step forward for women's health, but the retailer also said it would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill these prescriptions if they personally oppose birth control. This leaves the door open for women to be denied access to this safe, effective medication - just because of a pharmacist's personal beliefs.
Many of us never thought we'd be thanking Wal-Mart (of all companies!) - but, please, express your appreciation to Wal-Mart for doing the right thing, and take a moment to urge the company to revisit its pharmacy refusal policy. Click here: http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/walmart_pharmacyrefusal_3_3_06/wisus5erl5ktdxb?
We can be sure that our opponents will be up in arms over the company's decision, so your thank-you message will ensure that Wal-Mart hears from the pro-choice majority.
If you're interested in learning how you can get the morning-after pill, call 1-888-NOT-2-LATE or click here: http://www.not-2-late.com