Hard core skate-boarders and their fans, took over the stage, at Oak Mountain this evening. But the night was about much more than "big airs," and "wheel grinds".
Skateboard legend Tony Hawk and his friends put on a show Wednesday night in Pelham - the "Boom Boom Huck Jam". Whether is was Mctwists, spills, or motor cycles flying behind the half pipe, the crowd loved it.
The night was more than mad skills though, it was also about truth. The tobacco information campaign had their tent set up inside the ropes and skate fans were playing games, anything from "Red Light, Green Light" to trivia. And, it looked like fun too. But these games were all about the dangers of smoking and tobacco products. Front man Eddie Contreras says this is the perfect place to reach many of today's kids. "the tobacco industry spends roughly 36 million dollars a day in advertising so we have to combat that. And to hit these kids face to face," he says of the programs mission.
The information was also a big hit with many parents there with their kids. "Smoking'll kill you. It's harmful, cancer. Lung cancer. It's harmful for pregnant women," says Ricky Fryer.
The truth tent was all about information. Even the t-shirts. On one, the front had a nice argyle type pattern. But when you turn it inside out, a list of all 599 additives to a single cigarette. "Actually one of the chemicals that's found inside of cigarettes is urea. And urea is also found in your urine. That kind of surprised me," says truth activist Tracy Ronquillo.
Both Contreras and Ronquillo say one reason they've been so popular is that they're not out here to keep people from lighting up. They're just giving folks the knowledge to make their decision.
