Dolphin Lair’s anti-smoking campaign
Dec 6, 1976: 21-year-old Dolphin Lair held a hostage at gunpoint for several hours on top of a building in Los Angeles until police agreed to his demand that local radio stations broadcast his anti-smoking message. The message read, in part, "I want my Congress to put a bill before the law that all cigarettes that contain nicotine and tar should clearly explain what the ingredients mean." Once the message was broadcast, Lair surrendered.
Lair's father had recently died of lung cancer. He later explained that when he had first tried to get the media to broadcast his message, "They told me it wasn't newsworthy. So I planned this... and it was newsworthy."
He was eventually convicted of felony false imprisonment and sentenced to a year in county jail.
More info: NY Times
Lair's father had recently died of lung cancer. He later explained that when he had first tried to get the media to broadcast his message, "They told me it wasn't newsworthy. So I planned this... and it was newsworthy."
He was eventually convicted of felony false imprisonment and sentenced to a year in county jail.
More info: NY Times
Long Beach Independent - Dec 7, 1976
Coshocton Tribune - Dec 7, 1976
Comments
Cigarettes dangerous ? Ridiculous Having grown up in LA I can asure you that if the dude had been white he would have gotten 30 days in County.
Posted by F.U.D in Stockholm on 08/08/23 at 06:46 AM
False imprisonment ?
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 08/08/23 at 10:32 AM
I had to witness my father literally coughing up bits of his lungs on his bedsheet in the hospital. Dolphin Lair has my complete support.
Posted by Richard Bos on 08/19/23 at 05:39 AM
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Category: Crime | Smoking and Tobacco | 1970s