(Community Matters) In this NYTimes editorial
Nationally, African-Americans are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession as whites. The disparity is even more pronounced in some states, including Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, where African-Americans are about eight times as likely to be arrested. And in some counties around the country, blacks are 10, 15 or even 30 times as likely to be arrested.
Interestingly, yesterday and in previous visits, Steven and I have noticed the casualness with which New Yorkers smoke pot on the streets; we’ve noticed this in San Francisco and Venice Beach too.
The domestic War on Drugs has been waged disproportionately on racial minorities – disheartening to see that this continues so fervently. Such great economic and educational strides during the 60s and 70s, until Reagan’s $1.7 billion to fight drugs and mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses disproportionately applied against minorities.
Community Matters 