Battling Menthol Restrictions, R.J. Reynolds Reaches Out to Sharpton, Other Black Leaders
Tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, the top seller of the menthol cigarettes favored by most black smokers, is seizing on the hot button issue of police harassment of blacks to counter efforts by public health advocates to restrict menthol sales.
In recent months, the company has quietly enlisted black groups and leaders, including civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton and ex-Florida Congressman Kendrick B. Meek, to hold meetings at prominent black churches on the theme of "Decriminalizing the Black Community.” They have warned that banning cigarettes with the minty, throat-numbing additive could create a black market and give police new reasons to lock up black males.
The tobacco company has paid travel costs for the panelists and contributed to their organizations, Anti-smoking advocates have blasted the campaign as deceptive and a scare tactic. “How can the tobacco industry care about criminalization when they don’t even care about killing you,’’ one said. Read the story at www.fairwarning.org
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