NY Legislators Call Upon NYS Comptroller to Divest from Corporations Declining to Offer FDA-Approved Mifepristone in States Where Abortion is Legal

ALBANY, NY - Today, New York Senate Legislators took action to make it clear that they will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights in the wake of new attacks by Republican Attorneys General to undo these protections in states where abortion is legal. 

Earlier this month, the nation’s second-largest pharmacy chain, Walgreens, preemptively conceded to the threat of legal action from nearly two dozen Republican State Attorneys General and made the decision to stop providing access to safe and FDA-approved abortion medication by mail or in their pharmacy storefronts. 

In light of this corporate decision to withhold legal access to mifepristone, New York State Legislators delivered a letter on March 16, 2023 asking NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to immediately begin the process of divesting from holdings of Walgreens and Walgreens Boots Alliance that are held by the Common Retirement Fund. Additionally, legislators urged the Comptroller and his investment staff to continue to monitor the actions of other national chain pharmacy corporations for potential divestment should they seek to reduce access to reproductive care.

Said Women’s Issues Chair Lea Webb Senator Lea Webb, “New York must continue to ensure equitable access to reproductive care. It is important to send a clear message that we will do everything in our power to protect reproductive freedom which includes divesting from corporate entities that cave to political threats against these rights  in states where abortion is legal.” 

Said Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, “Not only is Walgreens’ refusal to dispense medication abortion cowardly, it’s bad business. Corporations who accede to right wing extremists don’t deserve New Yorkers’ investments.”

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