Each year, more than 250 young people from across the Commonwealth gather on Kick Butts Day at the Massachusetts State House to educate legislators about the tobacco and vaping industry tactics they see in their communities and to talk about what they are doing to address those tactics.
Massachusetts’ 2019 Kick Butts Day celebration will be held at the Massachusetts State House on April 3rd. The speaking program begins at 1:15pm, after the youth march across Boston Common to the State House.
Kick Butts Day is a national tobacco observance used to recognize youth contributions to tobacco prevention efforts. It is a youth-centered event that allows young people to highlight their efforts to fight the tobacco industry’s influence on their peers and in their communities.
Kick Butts Day is a full-day event, culminating in a youth-led speaking program that includes award presentations. During the morning, young people attend a training, meet with adults whose tobacco prevention programs serve their communities, and march across the Common to the State House. Young people also spend time visiting legislators to explain what they are doing in their communities to reduce the impact of the tobacco industry’s tactics.
The young people participating in the event are part of The 84 Movement, who have been educating their communities and their local lawmakers about tobacco issues, working with local health boards and other programs to promote effective tobacco prevention strategies in their communities.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is the originator of the national Kick Butts Day.
