No Shepherd Express at CVS
For the past two weeks, there’s been a growing fiasco involving the CVS on Farwell, the Shepherd Express, and a man named Jeff White. After CVS refused to carry the weekly Shepherd Express newspaper, White took it upon himself to protest the decision by standing out front with a sign that read, “CVS: Where is the Shepherd Express?”
As a result of his actions, White had been arrested for “loitering and prowling” and issued a $160 citation. Although all charges against White have been dropped, the conflict is not over yet. Whether you consider them martyrs or fanatics, numerous people have taken White’s place on the sidewalk with signs in hand.
Shepherd Express readers certainly can be a dedicated group, but that dedication may be part of the problem at hand. I applaud the convictions of the protesters, but at the same time, I find their actions foolishly narrow-minded. The choice of whether or not to carry Shepherd Express belongs solely to CVS, and not to its patrons.
There is no denying the liberal leanings of the staff at Shepherd Express. It is a quality publication with great reviews and editorials, but that doesn’t mean that everyone on the East Side agrees with the views presented. If the management at CVS holds such disagreements with the political and personal opinions of the paper, they are completely within their rights to not carry it.
How many people would cry foul if the disputed publication had been a journal of neo-nazi propaganda, or an ultra-conservative paper touting the evils of women’s rights? How many people would still stand behind White’s protest? I assure you, not many.
CVS is not infringing upon your rights. CVS is not trying to change your political views. They have simply made a choice as to what publications they will represent themselves with. If you want to be an open-minded person, first you need to accept the freedoms and choices of those around you.
June 4th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Good for them for taking a “stand!”
Nowadays people are too afraid of “offending” any particular group. Apparently CVS does not worry about this.
Shepherd Express is far from factual, that’s for sure.
It’s available at plenty of other outlets. It’s not censorship or anything of the sort.
Great entry!
Kim from Milwaukee, WI
November 12th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
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