THE NOVEMBER COALITION http://www.november.org/ Exposing the folly of America's war on drugs. And the essay below can go up in the outrage section titled the same as the link.
We are a growing body of citizens whose lives have been gravely affected by our government's present drug policy. We are drug war prisoners, their loved ones and others who believe that our present course of war in America has a price that we cannot afford to pay.
Our goal is to make our voice heard, expose the folly of America's War on Drugs, and demand change. We are encouraged by the scores of Federal Judges, physicians, law enforcement officers, lawyers, mayors, governors, educators and legislators who have become outspoken critics of our country's current policy.
The statistics can get overwhelming: Over 60% of the 1.7 million American citizens currently behind bars are non-violent drug offenders. The average sentence for a first time, non-violent drug offender is longer than that for a rapist, child molestor, or bank robber. This is insane and outrageous, but there's something about numbers: People don't get too worked up about 'em. But give people a human drama, and they'll go to the barricades. And no group has done more to put human faces on the statistics in our ongoing "War on Drugs" than the November Coalition.
The November Coalition's Web site is the most genuinely moving one to be featured as Freedom Page of the Week. It's a real tear-jerker. There is no question that the War on Drugs is fundamentally wrong in every way. Neither philosophically nor practically is there any rational justification for this ongoing travesty. But how often have you thought, really thought, about the individual victims? The first-time offenders whose lives are stolen from them; The spouses and children who are left behind to struggle on. Their stories are told here, and they are unforgettable.
At The Wall, the names, numbers, photos and stories of hundreds of prisoners are posted. You can flip through them, one by one. You will read about Cynthia Dickerson who was framed in a "reverse sting" by a pressuring "friend", and has a 9 year, 1 month, and 1 day sentence to serve. Terry Anderson, mother of 2, received a 30 year sentence which is, in her words, "just one year shy of the length of time I've been onthis earth."
The Wall got me choked up, but the Children of War section is devastating. Read 10-year old Philip Gaines' letter to the judge, begging for his mother's freedom: "...my birthday is coming up in October the 25 and I need my mom to be here on the 25 and for the rest of my life." (The plea fell on deaf ears, and first-time offender Dorothy Gaines is serving a 19-year sentence.)
Links:
The November Coalition: http://www.november.org/Statistics:
http://www.november.org/Alarming.htmlThe Wall:
http://www.november.org/wall.htmlCynthia Dickerson:
http://www.november.org/wall-CynthiaD.htmlTerry Anderson:
http://www.november.org/wall-TerryA.htmlChildren of War:
http://www.november.org/Children.htmlLetter to the Judge:
http://www.november.org/Child-Philip.htmlBack