The coachella valley music and arts festival or rather coachella is a music and arts festival that occurs once a year at the empire polo club in indio, california, located in the coachella valley in the colorado desert. Back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation. Fx series pins crack epidemic on the cia the salt lake. The myths of crack cocaine with dr carl hart from joe. Cia and the crack epidemic documentary was a great piece of news journalism for mainstream america. Theres a decent summary in the wikipedia article about the crack epidemic. No matter what you think of the cia, theres no putting the crack epidemic genie back in the bottle. President bill clinton gets it wrong on mass incarceration. Documentary heaven has been around since 2009, we are an educational website dedicated solely to bringing you the very best documentary films sourced from all over the internet. Three and a half years in the making, the film follows gang members, former dea agents, cia officers, narcotics officers, judges, politicians, prisoners and celebrities. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum. By 2002, the united kingdom was experiencing their own crack epidemic, with the number of crack addicts seeking help climbing nearly 50% that year.
Although the movie draws from dark alliance too, it didnt dedicate a lot of time to explaining the geopolitical intricacies into which gary got in his book. It is one of the most highly additive and destructive drugs in the world. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. In his report, webb who had won a pulitzer in 1989 for a different story claimed that the cia was partly responsible for bringing crack cocaine to.
The crack epidemic started by the assistance of the f. The book is based on dark alliance, webbs threepart investigative series published in the san jose mercury news in august 1996. In fact, the cia led campaign to discredit webb is an interesting well documented story all by itself. President bill clinton doubled down on his 1994 crime bill, pulling back from his recent apology for his role in the over incarceration of young african americans. Outraged at cia role in drug trade duke university. According to one article, the cocaine that flooded in through blandons drug ring helped spark a crack explosion in.
These events led to what is known as the crack epidemic in the. Cooper was a journalist for the village voice, who had received acclaim for a 1987 story about the crack epidemic in detroit titled kids killing kids. The cia dropped crack into the inner cities in the 80s. The original 50 cent was said to have terrorized the streets of fort greene, brooklyn and surrounding areas. Kill the messenger includes documentary coverage of congressperson maxine waters and other black leaders demanding the cia fess up. The american military base groom lake or better known as area 51 is a place questioned by many, but one thing is. The drug which started out as a fad back in the 1970s amongst the motorcycle gang subculture has now spread right across the united states, it is known by many names, speed, meth, glass, etc. Browse documentaries page 40 of 437 documentary heaven. These claims have led to investigations by the united states government, including hearings and reports by the united states house of representatives, senate, department of justice, and the cias office of the inspector general.
On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia, and the nicaraguan contra army. Some of these missions even included killing of children. Sep 25, 20 fueled by the findings of an investigation by san jose mercury news reporter gary webb in 1996, many would come to believe that the cia had actually created the crack epidemic in america by. Secrets of the cia reveals the truth about the cia and how this organization is behind numerous terrorist plots throughout history. Mar 19, 2007 remembering the crack epidemic as a young man, freelance writer kenji jasper watched the crack epidemic destroy some of the people he grew up with. Despite the governments best efforts to crack down on it. Mar 23, 2014 renowned documentary photographer eugene richards bore witness to the ravages of the crack epidemic that gripped the northeast in the 1980s. I think that dark alliance needs to be filmed, too. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drugfree. Caught and then convicted to life in prison during the mid90s, freeway rick reduced his sentence to 20 years an extremely rare feat. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia.
In short, the cia supported the contra rebels in nicaragua who were funded by cocaine shipments to the us. Ross used the cocaine imported by the cia to set up a cocainedistribution network in major cities throughout the united states. Americas war on drugs is an immersive trip through the last five decades, uncovering how the cia, obsessed with keeping america safe in the fight against communism, allied itself with the. Based on a yearlong investigation, reporter gary webb wrote that during the 1980s the cia helped finance its covert war against nicaraguas leftist government through sales of cutrate cocaine to south central. During the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack.
This underground world is probably one of the most polarising social issues of our time as on one side we have those who feel they are helping people end their suffering but on the other we have the lawmakers who believe maters of assisted. The govt cia invented crack just to target the black man in order to keep him down. It was just another ploy to blame black people for what is wrong in america. With richard stratton, ty hurley, celerino castillo iii, christopher glover.
Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. Instead, today he labeled these youth in similar fashion to his wifes description 20 years ago, as a type of predator that leads to people being hopped up on crack. In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. Its debated to what degree the cia helped them ship cocaine into the us, and they definitely werent involved in drug distribution, but it seems pretty clear the cia has some level of responsibility. Hired by the san jose mercury news, webb contributed to the papers pulitzer prize winning. Gary stephen webb august 31, 1955 december 10, 2004 was an american investigative journalist. At the center of it all is the rise, fall and redemption of freeway rick ross, a street hustler who became the king of crack, and journalist gary webb. Did the cia really introduce cocainecrack to the u.
Kill the messenger is based on a book i didnt read. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Many ex cia agents speak out about their experiences as agents and what they were required to do. The crack epidemic surged between 1984 and 1990, as routine users of hard drugs went from 4. This is the story of a journey along the frontier of what is real and what is imagined, at its heart is the secret defense establishment of the richest nation on earth. In the article there is a story told to banks by a police officer where he states he had arrested a 9yearold for stealing food from a liquor store and then found that the boy was trying to feed his three young.
Conspiracy watch free documentaries online documentary heaven. The documentary series then delves into the rise of the cocaine cowboys, a secret island cocaine base, the cias connection to the crack epidemic, the history of the cartels and their murderous tactics, the era of just say no, the negative effect of nafta, and the unlikely career of an almost famous midwest meth queen. Watch thousands of free movies at documentary heaven. Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic. By 1985, cocainerelated hospital emergencies rose by 12 percent, from. The uk reported an increase of 74% in seizures of crack cocaine in drug raids between 2000 and 2006. Watch free documentaries online documentary heaven. History sets premiere date for limited doc series americas. Cia and cocaine how the cia sparked the crackepidemic. I dont think well see docs like that on tv anytime soon. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects.
This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods, as well as a resulting backlash in the form of tough on crime policies. The american crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between 1984 and 1990. The documentary series then delves into the rise of the cocaine cowboys, a secret island cocaine base, the cia s connection to the crack epidemic, the history of the cartels and their murderous tactics, the era of just say no, the negative effect of nafta, and the unlikely career of an almost famous midwest meth queen. It has long been known that the cia has illegally toppled foreign governments. Gary webb was no journalism hero, despite what kill the. Where did the cia introduced crack to the inner cities in. Mar 09, 2017 ross used the cocaine imported by the cia to set up a cocainedistribution network in major cities throughout the united states. The true story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still untold. Cia allegations of cocaine trafficking conspiracy crack.
And if youre a fan, documentary heaven has thousands of titles to choose from. The invention of crack represented a technological innovation that dramatically widened the availability and use of cocaine in inner cities. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion, the book by journalist gary webb. His book cocaine true, cocaine blue documents the brutal realities facing communities affected by the drug. Aug 30, 2012 one of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. Documenting the ravages of the 1980s crack epidemic al. Any one with a pea brain knows whites are the biggest drug addicts. The original series claimed that, in order to help raise funds for efforts against the nicaraguan sandinista government, the cia supported. These claims have led to investigations by the united states government, including hearings and reports by the united states house of representatives, senate, department of justice, and the cia s office of the inspector general. The drugs the cia let into the country contributed to the deaths of many africanamericans in the ghetto, these drugs were part of the crack epidemic.
Clair who write for the nation lay it all out in their book whiteout. Mass incarceration has largely been the type of stain on. Freeway ricky ross, a former us street legend, who as a drug dealer was once responsible for flooding californias streets with most of its hard drugs, spo. In fact, the cialed campaign to discredit webb is an interesting well documented story all by itself. The crack epidemic served as an excuse to lock up hundreds of thousands of black and latinoa people on drug charges. He began his career working for newspapers in kentucky and ohio, winning numerous awards, and building a strong reputation for investigative writing. However, the introduction of crack was destructive to black communities. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs. Small doses of it are smoked into the lungs and delivered quickly to the brain. Webbs articles were welcomed by oppressed people as proving the drug war was aimed at them.
Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. The answer is the same as it was a decade ago following a central intelligence agency cialed invasion of afghanistan. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. Americas war on drugs is an immersive trip through the last five decades, uncovering how the cia, obsessed with keeping america safe in the fight against communism, allied itself with the mafia and foreign drug traffickers. Snowfall is compelling and believable which is why it. A groundbreaking special from frontline where over the course of 90minutes we are taken into the social grey area of assisted suicide. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb in 1996, journalist gary webb began looking into links between nicaraguas drugrunning contra rebels and the cia. Hello reddit, i was doing a little research on the crack epidemic of the 1980s and from what i read the cia introduce crack cocaine to the u. Crips to sell crack in cincinnati in 1987 and that he sold cocaine. One of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and fake news created the myth of the crack baby.
Most popular crack cocaine movies and tv shows imdb. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some sort of liberal agenda to demonize reagans term. The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine trade. New jack city eats its young, the article was one of the first exposes of the effects of the crack epidemic on innercity communities. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion. Good documentaries on 80s crack epidemic lipstick alley. Oct 05, 2011 the drugs the cia let into the country contributed to the deaths of many africanamericans in the ghetto, these drugs were part of the crack epidemic. Mchenry claims that the films main character, nino brown. Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s. Central intelligence agency ties to drug trafficking and the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic that devastated neighborhoods, destroyed families and. I has destroyed african american people, culture, and communities. Usually the cia s activities have harmful effects on innocent civilians in foreign countries. Much like the aids in vending machines, this is moon landing, birther, conspiracy level insanity.
We currently have thousands of free thoughtprovoking documentaries for you to choose from which fall into a wide range of categories. This creates a short high, followed by tiredness, depression, panic, anxiety, and brain damage. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods, as well as a resulting backlash in the form of tough on crime. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yes. Jul 07, 2017 their based on a real story manglings and stranglings of history are legendary, from oliver stone on down. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. Measuring crack cocaine and its impact harvard university. This documentary by awardwinning filmmaker marc levin slam, mr. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. The criticism of the criticism usually fails to come to grips with the salient point. Webb doesnt think that anybody got the idea to start a crack epidemic. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. Untouchable, brick city exposes how the infiltration of crack cocaine destroyed innercity neighborhoods across the country.
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