Plan B Olympia

A lot of people are wondering if the boycott is continuing, now that Plan B is “over-the-counter.”

The answer to that is yes: we will continue boycotting until Plan B is stocked at Ralph’s.

Although widening access to Plan B is a step in the right direction, the current plan recently approved by the FDA allows only for sales to women 18 and over, with sales allowed only in pharmacies.

This change in status does not mean that Plan B will be available in more outlets in Olympia, so the access issues our community is facing remain very much the same.  (This FDA decision will actually have a far bigger impact on women in other states where a prescription was always required.)

However, in an interview with Brad Shannon of the Olympian, Kevin Stormans stated he will be reconsidering his Plan B policy.  It’s important to keep the pressure on while this is being mulled over.

Let’s continue to show Ralph’s Thriftway how Olympia feels about women’s rights!  Come out and picket with us in front of Ralph’s on Tuesday, August 29 from 5-7.

We got great media coverage this week! Check out these news articles:

• The Olympian: Women contest Plan B stances
• The Seattle Times: Olympia women complain after pharmacies refuse prescriptions
• The Seattle Post-Intelligencer: 9 women complain Plan B not at pharmacies

And both of the Seattle papers had very positive editorials:

• The Seattle PI: Contraception: Politics of Plan B
• The Seattle Times: Editorials & Opinion: Plan B should be readily available

Watch our TV appearance on KING5’s Web site.  (Appears to require Internet Explorer, so probably Windows-only.)

Thanks to everybody who has pledged to join the boycott and those who participated in the pickets of the last week.

We have collected more than 300 pledge cards, accounting for more than $50,000 in potential lost business for Ralph’s & Bayview Thriftway.

Our protest pickets have been friendly, respectful, and fun. Yesterday KING 5 news covered the story; if you have tape, YouTube or Google Video copies, let us know.

We’re taking a breather to regroup. If you haven’t already, please fill out a pledge boycott card. You may also consider writing a letter to the editor or directly to Stormans Inc.

Our next planning meeting will be on July 10 at 7pm in the Olympia Center, Multipurpose Room B. Can’t make it? Contact us at planboly@hotmail.com to get updates or to send us your great ideas.

• KUOW: Olympia Grocer Picketed Over Refusal to Stock Emergency Contraception
• The Olympian: Market owner resists calls to carry Plan B pill

• The Olympian: “Boycott brews over grocer’s Plan B stand“
• OlyBlog: “Why *do* you shop at Ralphs and Bayview?“