Drug Wars
America's "war on drugs" has done nothing to reduce drug abuse, despite massive spending on law enforcement. Instead, it has diverted resources from fighting other crimes, fostered racial profiling and put millions behind bars. Meanwhile, people with serious illnesses are cruelly prevented from accessing medications that could help them.
Drug Wars takes you to Hearne, Texas, where 27 young African Americans were arrested in a drug bust, based on the word of one unreliable informant. Regina Kelly, a mother of four, was at work when police officers took her into custody without telling her why. She took action to prohibit arrests based on such flimsy evidence.
In South Carolina, Le'Quan Simpson and Kayla Dandiles recall a raid at their high school, when a SWAT team targeted black students--holding guns to their heads as dogs ripped apart their backpacks. No drugs were ever found.
Three sisters describe the devastating impact on their family of mandatory minimum sentences. Their mother was sentenced to 27 years in prison because of her involvement with a man who was dealing drugs, though she never sold or used drugs herself.
After Valerie Corral found that marijuana relieved her debilitating seizures, she helped author the first state law allowing the use of medical marijuana and started a hospice to help people with terminal illnesses. Nevertheless, federal agents stormed her home and arrested her and her husband.
Through these true stories, this episode of The Freedom Files shows how the "war on drugs" has become a war on the American people.
The Freedom Files
The Freedom Files (Season 1) is a 10-part multimedia series that goes behind the headlines to reveal the impact of civil liberties violations on real people’s daily lives. Created by the ACLU and award-winning filmmaker Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films, the series is produced and directed by Jeremy Kagan.
Series topics include the Patriot Act, the Supreme Court, free speech and dissent, religious freedom, gay and lesbian rights, drug policy, racial profiling, women's rights, and youth freedoms.
Join the Producers Club and organize a screening event.
The Freedom Files Producers Club is made up of a nationwide network of AcTiVists--from libraries, schools and neighborhood associations to LINK TV viewers and other individuals -- who are bringing The Freedom Files to their communities and living rooms. The Producers Club aims to build a robust national network of AcTiVists who care deeply about civil liberties issues.
The American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union works daily in courts, legislatures and communities to protect the individual liberties, rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. Founded in 1920, the ACLU is a nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization with more than 550,000 members. It has offices in all 50 states and employs more than 150 permanent staff attorneys and 2,000 cooperating attorneys, litigating more than 6,000 cases annually.
For more information go to http://www.aclu.tv.
Interested in drug policy reform efforts? Learn what you can do:
ACLU
Drug Policy Alliance
