Strong representation was made today by Dave Atherton of Freedom2Choose and freelance journalist Pat Nurse who objected against the material on the grounds of incitement to hatred towards smokers, with the inference that smokers could be treated as nothing more than ‘punch-bags’
Accompanying them was Dudley councillor Malcolm Davis.
The NHS Trust had recruited the photographer Rankin to assist with the hard-hitting anti-smoking film, which was being used as part of a multimedia campaign launched in September. Rankin had co-directed the film with Chris Cottam, which shows a smoker suffering an assault from an invisible assailant as he walks down the street.
Freedom2Choose lodged a complaint against the material and upon consideration, the NHS Trust has agreed to remove it from all venues within the next two weeks.
Phil Johnson, pub and club liaison officer of Freedom2Choose states, “I am thrilled about this decision as I have had several pub and club clientele contacting me and informing me that they had been abused as result of this material.”
Freedom2Choose will actively campaign against the abuse and hatred that individuals continue to suffer as a result of modern anti-smoking techniques.
Reference:
1 Fight back. Quit now - http://www.youtube.com/
