Don’t let our leaders repeat the same mistakes
Friend, I’m happy to share that President Biden just took historic action by commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 Americans imprisoned for drug offenses. These individuals faced years, in many cases decades, behind bars. All because of the deeply flawed, racist, and draconian drug laws that politicians continue to perpetuate to this day.
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Many were serving severe prison sentences as a result of the unfair crack cocaine sentencing disparity which has punished people convicted for crack cocaine more harshly than powder cocaine. This profoundly unfair disparity is about racism, not science or evidence. And it's long contributed to the disproportionate incarceration of Black Americans even though white people are actually more likely than Black people to use crack cocaine in their lifetimes.
Biden's actions have shown Americans that justice delayed doesn’t have to mean injustice forever. As we celebrate this historic day, we thank President Biden and supporters like you for making him to do the right thing!
It’s encouraging to finally see this long-overdue step toward justice taken. But we are also concerned that our leaders could just take us back in the wrong direction. Many elected officials and the incoming Trump administration risk repeating past mistakes and pushing ineffective responses to drugs like mandatory minimums that are used to target Black communities and let people languish in prison. The same drug war playbook that ruined lives, broke communities apart, and imprisoned large swaths of the American public for crack cocaine will have the same effect today. And once again, it will lead to a more unpredictable, dangerous drug supply that will only put more lives at risk and more people behind bars.
Our communities are understandably frustrated with the failed status quo. They are eager for solutions to address fentanyl, addiction, and overdose. But Americans deserve real solutions, not more failed approaches of the past. We will continue to call on Congress and the Trump administration to prioritize real health solutions to drugs and the overdose crisis. This is the change we urgently need to save lives.
We will also continue our fight to change laws to support the reintegration of Americans imprisoned for drug offenses. They face needless barriers to successful reentry – from housing and healthcare to employment.
In 2010, you helped us lead the coalition that resulted in former President Obama signing the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the unfair crack disparity from 100:1 to 18:1. And we are thankful for your help again making Biden's actions today possible, building on our work to address past wrongs, deliver long-overdue justice to drug war victims, and move us towards a more just future.
With hope,
Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance
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