I remember it like it was yesterday. My friend and I walked into a corner store to attempt buy tobacco for the Wisconsin Wins program. We had already brought three packs of tobacco from other places. As we approached the counter, I thought to myself, “Geez, I hope this guy is smarter than the other ones.” Unfortunately he wasn’t. He sold a pack of Black and Milds to my friend after checking his I.D. twice.
Situations like these happen everyday. But unlike me, these children don’t give the cigarettes to a police officer after leaving the store. They go home and smoke them. This is why I decided to join Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco (FACT).
FACT was created for and by Wisconsin teens and lets us use our voices and fight back against the tobacco companies.
Manipulicious is the name of our FACT group’s latest activism campaign.
Our local FACT group is doing all that we can to spread the word that underneath the colorful, kid-friendly wrapping of the chewing tobacco, little cigars and other tobacco products you’ll find many of the same poisonous, cancer causing chemicals.
As teens, we are sick of being the tobacco industry’s target and we are committed to taking a stand by fighting with FACT. For more information about the Manipulicious Campaign and the FACT Movement, check out fightwithFACT.com.
It is time for people, especially teens, to take a stand against tobacco companies. But we can’t take a stand without funding. My hope is that Governor Walker’s proposed 10% cut to Tobacco Prevention and Control Funding is not increased. If the program continues to be funded, my friends and I can continue volunteering to protect our peers from tobacco.
Thank you,
Angellic Ross
WI Wins Youth Participant
5467 N. 57th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53218
