The cocaine that flooded in helped spark a crack explosion in urban america. Later in the same region, while the cia was sponsoring a secret war in laos from 1961 to 1975, it was openly accused of trafficking heroin in the area then known as the. Freeway ricky ross, the drug kingpin who ignited crack. Dark alliance how the cia created the crack epidemic in the 1980s earlier one of our younger duers asked why reagan was so bad. 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. What can we learn from the crack epidemic and when black. Webb stumbles onto a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic on the nations streetsand further alleges that the cia was aware of.
Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come. Planet rock is a documentary by vh1 thats extremely good and. Prison populations soared as african americans were targeted by law enforcement despite using drugs at similar rates to whites. A media frenzy around the crack epidemic created a hysteria that meant support for his lawandorder policy approach to drug use. Oct 11, 2014 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. Teddy mcdonald carter hudson, a cia operative running from a. 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. Aug 30, 2012 one of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. Could this be the start of a renewed exploration of the governments complicity in the rise of crack in america. Now, webbs bombshell expose is being explored anew in a documentary, freeway. Freeway rick ross on how he introduced crack to the u. Mainstream media finally exposes cia drug trafficking.
The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. Nov 11, 2016 child sex trafficking and satanic ritual abuse tied to white house. Congress passed laws that created a 100 to 1 sentencing disparity for the possession. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge, reviving old rumors about the agencys complicity in cocaine smuggling during the reagan administrations covert war in nicaragua, has some africanamerican leaders ready. Ciacrack cocaine scandal resurfaces in new film, documentary.
A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion. Oct 10, 2014 investigative reporter gary webb linked the cia to americas introduction to crack cocaine. The film takes place in the mid1990s, when webb uncovered the cias past. Your worst fears are true the cia did help to smuggle drugs into american ghettos, says an investigative reporter, webb was asked whether his story had confirmed the suspicion within the black community that the crack cocaine epidemic might be part of a. This was accomplished, but the disregard for the inevitable result, our countrys crack cocaine epidemic, was not justifiable. 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. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods. Freeway ricky ross, the drug kingpin who ignited crack cocaine epidemic. This led to the us having the highest incarceration rate in the world. Oct, 2014 along with the release of a new documentary, freeway. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward.
Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. Rereading the story of the crack epidemic jstor daily. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. Good documentaries on 80s crack epidemic discussion in movie alley started by mjocdgal, jun 30. With michael levine, freeway ricky ross, eric sterling. We do want to start from a bit of a place of innocence. And i do think it would take us four or five seasons to get far enough down the. Dark alliance how the cia created the crack epidemic in the. Crack has destroyed families and, in many ways, destroyed communities, which still suffer the effects of crime, druguse, and incarceration.
Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. More compelling than fiction, its the real story behind americas war on drugs. 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. 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. Here are 10 things to know about gary webb and his report that linked the cia to crack cocaine. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. Untouchable, brick city exposes how the infiltration of crack cocaine destroyed innercity neighborhoods across the country. In 1996, journalist gary webb began looking into links between nicaraguas. Many ex cia agents speak out about their experiences as agents and what they were required to do. In the interview notes with filmmaker levin, blandon confirms his support of the contras and his role in drug trafficking, but downplays his significance. Ross was a source for webb, who alleged that the cia had a role in the introduction of crack to the u. Crack babies, the contras, and the cia mises institute. In response to the crack epidemic, the sale of five grams of the. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy studies.
A november 1985 new york times cover story brings the drug to national attention. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. The secret flow of drugs and money, webb reported, had a direct link to the crack epidemic that devastated californias most vulnerable african american neighborhoods. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. The big lie is that we started it all the crack epidemic we were just a small part, blandon said. 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. The means used by the cia was the saturation of cocaine in our country.
Although snowfall is using the same cia technical adviser employed by the americans. Some of webbs sources would later speak out in a 2015 documentary called freeway. Mar 17, 2016 freeway rick ross on how he introduced crack to the u. Teddy mcdonald carter hudson, a cia operative running from a dark. Heres how the crack epidemic brought a city to its knees.
The ghastly disease aids burst upon the scene in the early 1980s. In a scene from the new movie kill the messenger, investigative. Webb alleged that profits from these crack sales were funneled to the ciasupported contras. The fbis war on black america top documentary films. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some sort of liberal agenda to demonize reagans term. 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. Agency ties to drug trafficking and the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic that devastated neighborhoods, destroyed families and put thousands in. Snowfall is a onehour drama set against the infancy of the crack cocaine epidemic and its ultimate radical impact on the culture as we know it. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and fake news. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum. A most violent year nyc, 1981 a documentary short duration.
Cia played a role in promoting crack, ceppos and webb have said that. 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 united states in the 1980s. Most notably the film befriends freeway ricky ross. Gary webb on the cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion, audio interviews 19971998 with gary webb from democracy now. The charges of cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking were revived in 1996, when a newspaper series by reporter gary webb in the san jose mercury news claimed that the trafficking had played an important role in the creation of the crack cocaine drug problem in the united states. Mar 21, 2015 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. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb telegraph. In his own words 2004, video of interview with gary webb from guerrilla news network inside the dark alliance. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. One of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. Its no wonder then that the communities hit hardest by the crack epidemic of the late 80s were americas poorest.
Thirty years of americas drug war drug wars frontline. Some of these missions even included killing of children. 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. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack 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 l. Late journalist gary webb, actor jeremy renner in kill the messenger. The full story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still yet to be told. Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic. Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s. President reagans desired end was to finance the nicaraguan contras in their fight for democracy. This documentary by awardwinning filmmaker marc levin slam, mr. Kill the messenger crack in america in theaters friday. 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. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge.
Did the cia really introduce cocaine crack to the u. Did the cia really introduce cocainecrack to the u. Chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and fake news created the myth of the crack baby, while the cia became drug runners for the. After reading about gary webb exposing the cia s potential complicity in l. Jan 16, 2011 freeway ricky ross, the drug kingpin who ignited crack cocaine epidemic. A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack so.
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. Good documentaries on 80s crack epidemic discussion in movie alley started by mjocdgal, jun 30, 2015. Ross was a central character in webbs dark alliance allegations. During the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack. During the korean war, the first allegations of cia drug trafficking surfaced after 1949, stemming from a deal whereby arms were supplied to chiang kaisheks defeated generals in exchange for intelligence. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt. Crack, a potent form of smokeable cocaine developed in the early 1980s, begins to flourish in the new york region.
How one journalist linked the cia to the crack epidemic. Webbs series led to three federal investigations, none of. American drug war shows how money, power and greed have corrupted not just drug pushers and dope fiends, but an entire government. The big lie is that we started it all the crack epidemic we were just a small part. 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.
I has destroyed african american people, culture, and communities. Thirty years of americas drug war drug wars frontline pbs. 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. The high amount of people in jail is a direct result of the crack epidemic, which was started by the cia. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy. The cia were funding the contra rebels via the sale of vast quantities of cocaine at a time when certain people had learnt how to produce crack cocaine, the highly addictive and most evil form of the narcotic. Crack in the system tells the story of broken dreams, drug dealers, dirty cops, and government complicitymore compelling than fiction, its the real story behind americas longest war. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicians and fake news created the myth of the crack baby, while the cia became drug runners for the contras.
Are there any good documentaries focusing on the 80s crack epidemic. With richard stratton, ty hurley, celerino castillo iii, christopher glover. Crack in the system which was about rick freeway ross who created a crack empire in the 1980s. 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. The first article in the newspaper said that cocaine was virtually. Ross said the crack epidemic also created a different, dangerous mindset.
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 l. Good documentaries on 80s crack epidemic lipstick alley. The crack epidemic started by the assistance of the f. Crack in the system, as well as a feature film starring jeremy renner as gary webb, kill the messenger, key figures in the ciacrack cocaine scandal are beginning to come forward.
Secrets of the cia reveals the truth about the cia and how this organization is behind numerous terrorist plots throughout history. Crack in the system tells the story of broken dreams, drug dealers, dirty cops, and government complicity. Untouchable, brick city exposes how the infiltration. At the same time, he acknowledged, were not doing a documentary. Fx series pins crack epidemic on the cia the salt lake. The dea consolidates agents from the bndd, customs, the cia and odale. Survey data shows that, of people who tried crack, only 20 percent used it in the previous year, and less than 10 percent used it in the past month.
In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. 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. The true story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still untold.
623 37 463 1250 1507 348 1496 1486 103 39 1050 202 1623 1204 709 402 622 638 977 211 1569 949 1268 646 1213 594 1129 937 746 174 781