Afrika Bambaataa Joins Protest Against KOOL Cigarettes

Protesters of a cigarette marketing campaign went to the origins of hip-hop for their fight Saturday night, enlisting a DJ icon to protest outside a national DJ competition in Lake View. Hip-hop pioneering DJ Afrika Bambaataa joined the African American Tobacco Prevention Network to protest the Kool Mixx DJ Championship Concert at the Vic Theatre on North Sheffield. The group objects to the marketing efforts of Kool's parent company, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., which critics say target black and Hispanic youths. The company denies marketing to children. About 100 people beat drums, chanted and distributed fliers outside the show. It was the second of two local protests this weekend. "Your body is your first temple, your first mosque, your first church," said Bambaataa. "We've got to respect what goes in our bodies." [more]

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