The Biden administration has decided to postpone the ban on menthol cigarettes after criticism from Black voters and tobacco companies.
President Joe Biden and his administration are considering an imminent ban on menthol cigarettes starting in 2021.
Health officials support banning menthol cigarettes because black smokers are much more likely than white smokers to purchase menthol cigarettes, but groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) It argues that such a ban would have “serious racial justice implications.” ”
Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who died in July 2014 after being strangled by former NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, spoke out against the ban.
Garner was stopped outside a convenience store because officers believed he was selling untaxed cigarettes.
In a November 2023 letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Carr said: I got it. It said a ban on menthol cigarettes could create an “illegal market” and lead to “increased negative encounters with police in communities of color.”
“This rule has received historic attention, and we received a tremendous amount of feedback during the public comment period, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movements,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. said in a statement. . “It’s clear that there are still talks to be had and that will take more time.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg)
The White House faced push back on banning cigarette companies and other dissidents. new york times.
In early April, anti-smoking groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government to move forward with its seemingly stalled ban on menthol cigarettes.
This comes after White House officials announced in December 2023 that they would take more time to consider a plan to ban menthol cigarettes.
a public opinion poll called wall street journal carried out In early April, it was found that 30% of black men expressed support for former President Donald Trump.
The poll found that 57% of black men plan to vote for Biden, while 30% supported Trump. Meanwhile, 77% of black women said they would vote for Biden, while 11% said they would vote for Trump.
Derrick Johnson, President, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued The statement accused Biden of not “putting the people first.” He said, “In an election year, politicians should prioritize the people, not profiteers. Today’s news from the Biden administration is that we continue to be unjustly targeted and unjustly killed by Big Tobacco.” It’s a blow to the black community.”
“Let me be clear: Black lives matter should not be used as a pawn to get people to vote, but rather as a platform for our nation’s leaders to refuse to resign. “We should,” Johnson concluded.
