Civil Rights Activist Essie Berry Calls Out CVS Pharmacy for Sexual Harassment and Assault
Civil Rights Activist Essie Berry, the widow of the late Fred “ReRun” Berry from the 1970’s sitcom What’s Happening!! is stepping into the ring with CVS Pharmacy. She has filed a complaint on behalf of Deborah Johnson, an employee of CVS Pharmacy, previously known as Savon Drugs Store, who has been employed since 1995. According to Johnson, the incident of retaliation and discrimination took place after she spoke out against the predator who committed sexual assault and harassment acts against her at the CVS Pharmacy located in Montclair, CA.
These allegations have reportedly been covered up since 2009. Berry said that Johnson had a severe meltdown and has been under a doctor’s continuous care mentally, physically, and emotionally for the past two years. Even more, after careful consideration and a full analysis and investigation of Ms. Johnson’s case, Berry said it has been determined that she was victimized as well as traumatized by the CVS store manager.
Berry commented, “It is my clear understanding after having a conversation with Ms. Johnson’s therapist that all allegations of abuse did indeed occur. CVS Pharmacy Human Resources did nothing to stop the manager’s actions of becoming a predator to Ms. Johnson, nor did CVS Pharmacy protect her from the ongoing aftermath. Over a decade later, CVS Pharmacy’s code of conduct and sexual harassment policies were violated.”
Berry said that Johnson’s voice was silenced for years. She commented, “The horrific sexual assault and harassment that has transpired over the years are unacceptable. Ms. Johnson has a long road to recovery mentally, physically, and emotionally, and has to continue to live through this nightmare of sexual assault, harassment, bullying, retaliation, discrimination a daily basis.”
According to Berry, numerous complaints were filed against this manager pertaining to sexual harassment and retaliation. She said, however, that CVS Pharmacy Human Resources turned a blind eye to what happened. She commented, “I am not completely sure which is worse, covering up the sexual assault and harassment as if it didn’t happen to protecting the vicious predator, or even worse, silencing the victim for years to protect the image of one of their store managers that was in an authority figure of the company.”
She continued, “I am now asking Mrs. Karen Lynch, the current CEO of CVS Pharmacy, to hold their management and team member accountable for his actions and not allow these actions to continue to go on against an African American woman or any women that are employed by CVS Pharmacy. Enough is enough! It’s now time for Ms. Deborah Johnson to move forward and heal from this tragedy and come to a peaceful resolution for the damage that was caused to her health.”
This news first appeared on blacknews.com