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Culture Series: The War on Drugs in DC
April 24 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Free
What does it mean for DC residents to say, “the drug war is over”?
In 1989, Washington, DC, was an epicenter for the crack epidemic. Elected officials, including then-President George H.W. Bush, politicized the city’s struggles to further misguided and punitive policies that were implemented by Nixon’s “war on drugs.” For decades, these policies unjustly targeted Black and Brown Americans, and DC was no exception.
Today, the reverberations of the drug war are still felt by generations of Washingtonians who saw sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends locked away for drug offenses. The cycles of incarceration unraveled the fabric that binds families together and changed the life trajectory of those who found themselves in the crosshairs of the law.
In 2024, we see a new era of progressive drug policies and restorative justice that includes cannabis legalization. As advocates grapple with new industry and legislation, many are left wondering what it means to end the “war on drugs.” From ending incarceration and creating paths for re-entry to opportunities in new industries and the chance to build wealth, what does it mean for DC residents to say, “the drug war is over”?
Join HumanitiesDC and guest curator Caroline Phillips, Founder and Executive Producer of the National Cannabis Festival, for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on this bold question in the upcoming Culture Series.
ASL Interpretation will be provided.
Registration Event Link
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