Blacks in Atlanta & Pittsburgh Oppose Marketing
of Philip Morris' New Menthol Cigarette

Philadelphia, October 15/PRNewswire -- On Monday, October 18, 1999 at 10:00 a.m., simultaneous news conferences will be held in Atlanta, Georgia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to oppose the advertising and sales of Marlboro Milds, a new menthol cigarette brand. Residents of the two cities, which have been selected as test-market sites by Philip Morris, are concerned about the introduction of yet another menthol cigarette with the potential to addict Black children and young adults. Philip Morris' Marlboro brand is #1 in the tobacco marketplace, but has little popularity in Black communities.

"Black youth continue to have one of the lowest smoking rates in the nation and that makes them a ready target for profit-hungry tobacco manufacturers like Philip Morris," said Reverend Jesse W. Brown, Jr., who heads the National Association of African Americans for Positive Imagery (NAAAPI). Rev. Brown will speak at the Atlanta news conference.

"For nearly a decade, Black communities have actively opposed all new brands that target Black youth -- beginning with the defeat of the test market of Uptown cigarettes in Philadelphia in 1990, and continuing with protests against X cigarettes in Boston, and Camel Menthols nationally. In each case, we have triumphed," Reverend Brown said.

"With these new, community-based campaigns against Marlboro Menthol Milds, we say clearly and decisively - Not One More! Our communities are already suffering too much from tobacco-related illnesses and death, much of it caused by menthol brands like Newport, Salem and Kool. We will not allow Philip Morris to add to our pain with this new product. The Marlboro cowboy is already the #1 killer in the world. We do not need him riding into Atlanta and Pittsburgh to take aim at our young people."

The ad-hoc, community-based groups that have organized in the test-market cities are the Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Marlboro Milds and the Atlanta Campaign Against Marlboro Milds. Both groups use the abbreviation -- CAMM. Other groups associated with NAAAPI are also mobilizing in Black communities around the nation to support efforts in Atlanta and Pittsburgh and to send a clear message to Philip Morris that a new mentholated version of Marlboro targeted at the Black community will not be welcomed anywhere.

News Conference Specifics

PITTSBURGH:
When: Monday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: St. Paul Baptist Church, 6701 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Contact: Rev. Diane Zigler

ATLANTA:
When: Monday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Fulton County Commission Press Room, 141 Pryor Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
Contact: Dr. Adewale Troutman, Fulton County Health Department