CVS Not Selling Rolling Stone with Alleged Bomber on Cover

By Susan Manning and David Ertischek

Stirring controversy on Facebook and other online outlets, Rolling Stone magazine's cover on the edition which releases Friday, is a photo of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Two places you won't find the issue are CVS Pharmacy, including the Charlestown location in the Bunker Hill Mall, and Roche Bros.

The Rhode Island-based drug store chain CVS posted on its Facebook page Wednesday why the magazine won't be on its shelves:

"CVS/pharmacy has decided not to sell the current issue of Rolling Stone featuring a cover photo of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect. As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones."

Roche Bros. also posted to its Facebook page:

"We have had a number of inquiries today regarding our approach to the current issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. When our team learned about the cover image this morning, we chose not to offer that product for sale in our stores. We join with our customers and neighbors in focusing on the recovery of the victims and our community. Thank you."

According to USA Today, Rolling Stone editors say the reaction they are receiving is much like what they received when Charles Manson was on its cover 40 years ago. That edition turned out to be one of the magazine's best-selling issues and won a national award.

A Charlestown resident recently launched a social media campaign asking people to buy and burn copies of Rolling Stone's August issue. 

Several Boston politicians have also voiced their disappointment over the magazine's decision.

"Rolling Stone's decision to glamorize the image of a man who brought terror to our city is disappointing," said District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo, a mayoral candidate. "The marathon bombing shook our city and now thousands of people who were personally affected by this tragedy will have the unfortunate experience of coming across the face of a terrorist in a space usually reserved for rock stars and cultural icons. Boston is strong, but we are still healing."

Boston City Council President Stephen Murphy also took issue with the magazine cover.

"I am saddened and wounded by Rolling Stone magazine's utter callousness. A magazine that boasts stories of musical geniuses, cultural icons and legends of rock placed an alleged murderer and terrorist on its cover," he said in a press release. "Jahar Tsarnaev is not a rock star. Tsarnaev calculated a mass killing of unarmed citizens. He took the lives of four people and injured hundreds in the blink of an eye while looking on from a safe distance. He then had the audacity to walk our streets for days afterwards. Tsarnaev played us, now Rolling Stone has played us." 

Rolling Stone has responded to the outrage over its latest cover by issuing the following statement:

"Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day. The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens."