transcript: Bullnanza 2003 Channel 4 News

Heather Holeman (news reporter): Next on News Channel 4 at 10:00 a protest outside Bullnanza. Folks outraged over one of the event’s sponsors. Find out which one. (picture of cowboy bull riding) Also ahead it’s an attraction drawing thousands to downtown Oklahoma City, but tonight outside Bullnanza a protest was also turning a few heads. From our mobile newsroom tonight Channel 4’s Megan Vasick has a report.

Megan Vasick: Heather thousands are still inside the Ford Center right now Inside the Ford Center the best of the best bullriders are facing off against one another. Outside the youth of America are protesting what’s usually associated with rodeos (video of protestors on sidewalk).

Koorosh Zahrai: We’re protesting United States smokeless tobacco sponsorship of Bullnanza.

Megan Vasick: And SWAT, or Students Working Against Tobacco, is getting noticed in their decorated cars and on foot (video of black hearse and protestors).

Koorosh Zahrai: We don’t think it’s right that a youth has to go through something like this where they are walking past and they’re just bombarded by tobacco advertising.

Megan Vasick: Instead, SWAT is bombarding them with this message – spit out big tobacco (cars honking). They may not be able to change the world (female bystander says it’s everybody’s prerogative) but if they rope in just one person (teen bystander says I think chewing tobacco is disgusting) or two (adult male bystander says I think it’s a dangerous habit. I don’t do it and wouldn’t). That’s good enough for them.

Koorish Zahrai: Because it is so deadly.

Megan Vasick: In fact, the hearse is their signature car and their friend, through death, has become their role model (video of hearse and cars with posters on the side).

Koorish Zahrai: Sean Marsee is an Oklahoman, who at age 19 died from spit tobacco use.

Megan Vasick: That’s why as hundreds pour in to see the bullriding action, SWAT is just asking for 8 seconds of your time.

Koorish Zahrai: It is extremely dangerous for you because we don’t want you to end up like Sean Marsee.

Heather Holeman: That was Megan Vasick reporting. That Bullnanza isn’t the only appearance that SWAT makes. They also take their message to classrooms and their internet web page, hoping to touch thousands. And SWAT is made up of 4,500 youth members statewide. This is their third trip to Bullnanza.