Workers in Atlantic City are fired up for their ongoing push to eliminate second-hand smoke from the Jersey Shore town’s casinos. They are so fired up they held a rally on Wednesday, April 15, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of New Jersey’s Smoke Free Air Act. The bill banned smokin g inside workplaces, as well as most indoor public areas. But the bill had a carve out for Atlantic City casinos, which still allow smoking indoors in designated areas. The protesters believe that allowing smoking in designated sections of casino gaming areas unfairly exposes workers to second-hand smoke.  “People are getting sick, people are still dying, and they’re sitting on their hands doing nothing,” Lamont White, a casino employee and a C.E.A.S.E co-founder. The rally also took place about an hour before New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill delivered a keynote address during the East Coast Gaming Congress being held at the Hard Rock. Although Sherrill did not mention the issue in her remarks on Wednesday, a spokesman from her office referred NBC10 to comments she made last month. “What we need to do is, first and foremost, make sure we’re protecting the safety of workers,” Sherrill said. “And at the same time, ensuring that we have good jobs and we’re continuing to grow the economy here. So that requires hearings and litigation.” Rallygoers said that Sherrill’s past comments are not enough. They would like her to publicly back a complete smoking ban and drop the state’s opposition to a related lawsuit. “We’ve been going to Trenton, we’ve been doing so many rallies,” said Alfredo Ramirez Flores, a casino worker. “We’re hoping that Mikie Sherrill can help us and listen finally.” Previous attempts in New Jersey’s legislature to close the casino loophole have failed, and Atlantic City casinos have long opposed a ban because they believe it would cause smokers to go elsewhere. “I think the industry is working with the parties that are pushing for smoking bans to work on reasonable stuff,” said Mike Sampson, the general manager of the Hard Rock Atlantic City. “Solutions to the problem, to work out for the betterment of all parties intended.” ...read more read less