Slavery Museum Urged to Return Philip Morris Gift

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington anti-smoking group, called on the U.S. National Slavery Museum, in Fredericksburg, Va., to return a donation from tobacco giant Philip Morris USA, saying the company targets children ‘‘for another form of slavery,” reports the Associated Press.

Matthew L. Myers, president of the advocacy group, sent a letter to the museum’s executive director, Vonita Foster, last week that said that associating with the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturer would run counter to the museum’s goal of educating children.

The museum, which is in the midst of a $165-million capital campaign, does not plan to return the $200,000 donation, spokesman Matt Langan said. Museum officials have called on industries like tobacco, which originally benefited from slavery, to provide financial support.

‘‘We’re happy that Philip Morris was progressive enough and stepped up to the plate and donated,” Mr. Langan said. ‘‘We hope other corporations will follow suit.”

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