In First 72 Hours of Call to Action, Thousands of Americans Tell Wal-Mart to End Policy of Blocking Women’s Access

Washington, DC – NARAL Pro-Choice America announced today that it will send 26,441 messages from Americans in all 50 states to Wal-Mart’s Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters urging the retailer to reverse its policy of refusing to carry the “morning-after” pill.

NARAL Pro-Choice America, which has been a leader in calling on Wal-Mart to change this policy, launched this latest call to action after three women in Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against the retailer for refusing to stock emergency contraception.  NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts joined the women at a news conference to announce the lawsuit and will join NARAL Pro-Choice America in sending the messages.

Wal-Mart has refused to stock the morning-after pill, which is highly effective in preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, contraceptive failure, or sexual assault. To underscore the effect of Wal-Mart blocking women’s access to the emergency contraceptive, NARAL Pro-Choice America is sending the number of petitions that were generated on its website during the same 72-hour period.

“The message from these Americans is clear: Wal-Mart's management should not decide what medicines women may or may not take.  When a doctor prescribes emergency contraception for a woman, Wal-Mart should not have the right to overrule that decision,” according to a letter sent to Wal-Mart’s president and CEO, H. Lee Scott Jr. The letter was signed by Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Melissa Kogut, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

Keenan and Kogut also said there were signs that public pressure is spurring discussion within Wal-Mart. In response to questions regarding the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the retail giant told the Associated Press that "Women's health is a high priority for Wal-Mart, so clearly there are broader considerations and we are giving this a lot of thought.”

Contacts:
NARAL Pro-Choice America, Ted Miller, 202.973.3032
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, Melissa Kogut, 617.556.8800 

A copy of the letter sent with the petitions follows.

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February 13, 2006
H. Lee Scott, Jr.
President and CEO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th St
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611

Dear Mr. Scott:

The enclosed 26,441 messages from Americans in all 50 states call on your corporation to end its practice of refusing to stock emergency contraception also known as the “morning-after” pill.

The message from these Americans, many of whom are your customers, is clear: Wal-Mart's management should not decide what medicines women may or may not take.  When a doctor prescribes emergency contraception for a woman, Wal-Mart should not have the right to overrule that decision.

These messages also reflect the growing support of a lawsuit brought by three women in Massachusetts that calls on your company to reverse a policy that unnecessarily denies women their right to access safe, effective, and legally approved medication. 

The morning-after pill is most effective if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, contraceptive failure, or sexual assault.  It has tremendous potential to help prevent unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion.  To underscore the issues of time and access in this matter, we are sending the first 26,441 messages generated within the same 72-hour time frame.

Last week, we were encouraged to read a spokesperson’s statement to the Associated Press that "Women's health is a high priority for Wal-Mart, so clearly there are broader considerations and we are giving this a lot of thought.” We hope this statement is a sign that you are beginning to realize that the public wants women’s health to be a priority for those who operate pharmacies.
As the nation's largest retail pharmacy and the sole source of prescription medication for many women, particularly those in rural areas, you should be a leader in guaranteeing women’s access to birth control.

We hope that you see the delivery of these petitions as an opportunity to end a discriminatory policy and replace it with one that improves women’s access to birth control that’s vital to their health.

Sincerely yours,

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032