The hollywood film industry has churned out two movies this month covering the crack cocaine epidemic that ravaged black communities in the 1980s. In this case, the cias activities led to the crack epidemic in americas inner cities, which caused american citizens much pain and misery. Crack in the system official trailer 2014 marc levin cia contra documentary. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come. 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. Some of these missions even included killing of children. Crack in the system tells the story of broken dreams, drug dealers, dirty cops, and government complicity. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. The book is based on dark alliance, webbs threepart investigative series published in the san jose mercury news in august 1996. 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. At the end of the film, i was reminded of the importance the crack epidemic and hiphop had on my life. 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.
Good documentaries on 80s crack epidemic lipstick alley. Sep 09, 2019 this film explores the true story of drug trafficker freeway rick ross and how the cia helped him spread the crack epidemic in the united states. Did the cia play a role in launching the crackcocaine epidemic. By 1985, cocainerelated hospital emergencies rose by 12 percent, from. Crack in the system, have shined a new light on the. The true story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still untold. The pipeline of cia backed drug smuggling into the country and money smuggling out of the country to support the nicaraguan contras was wide open from the. Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic.
It was inspired by the late journalist gary webbs investigational series, published in the san jose mercury news in 1996, which revealed the shocking connection between the cia and the crack cocaine epidemic that ravaged the africanamerican community here, starting in the 1980s. Cia allegations of cocaine trafficking conspiracy crack. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. Here are 10 things to know about gary webb and his report that linked the cia to crack cocaine. Caught and then convicted to life in prison during the mid90s, freeway rick reduced his sentence to 20 years an extremely rare feat. Sep 20, 2019 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. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. If these companies are directly responsible for this scourge of death and destruction, the film argues, then they should cover the cost to help resolve it. Moreover, the idea that blandon and ross alone could have launched the crack epidemic is contradicted by welldocumented evidence about the nature of the cocaine trade and the emergence of crack. Oct 24, 2014 this story, which is explored in my upcoming documentary, freeway.
The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine trade. 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. Crack in the system official trailer 2014 marc levin. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt.
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. Snowfall is compelling and believable which is why it. Kill the messenger gary webb told the truth about ciabacked contra terrorists selling drugs to finance their dirty war against nicaragua in the 1980s. Usually the cia s activities have harmful effects on innocent civilians in foreign countries. Kill the messenger crack in america in theaters friday. Jul 07, 20 the american crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between 1984 and 1990. This documentary by awardwinning filmmaker marc levin slam, mr. Many excia agents speak out about their experiences as agents and what they were required to do. Oct 04, 2016 freeway ricky ross, who managed a billiondollar drug empire in l. Key figures in cia crack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. 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.
Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. Small doses of it are smoked into the lungs and delivered quickly to the brain. 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.
Aug 30, 2012 one of the most talked about conspiracy theories of the mid80s and early 90s had to do with the crack epidemic. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion is a 1998 book by journalist gary webb. 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. Despite warnings from drug kingpins and cia operatives to stop his. This creates a short high, followed by tiredness, depression, panic, anxiety, and brain damage. New shows examine cias past role in latin americas drug trade. The documentary investigates the horrific individual and societal impact of these rising addiction rates, and relentlessly exposes the chief engineers behind the epidemic. Snowfall premieres wednesday, july 5 at 10pm on fx. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs. Trailer 2014 marc levin cia contra documentary hd duration. Teddy mcdonald carter hudson, a cia operative running from a dark past who begins. Freeway ricky ross gets candid about the opioid crisis.
Original twopart documentary on al jazeera america freeway. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across. However, the introduction of crack was destructive to black communities. More compelling than fiction, its the real story behind americas war on drugs. It was just another ploy to blame black people for what is wrong in america. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic. Secrets of the cia reveals the truth about the cia and how this organization is behind numerous terrorist plots throughout history. As the documentary explains, the cias preeminence in policy circles not only hindered important narcotics investigations, but also helped upset the security of u. Ciacrack cocaine scandal resurfaces in new film, documentary. 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. It has long been known that the cia has illegally toppled foreign governments. Rick ross interview rick ross drug dealer profile esquire. Sean san jose play examines crack epidemic san francisco, ca.
Gary webb was no journalism hero, despite what kill the. Both kill the messenger, starring jeremy renner, and the documentary, freeway. A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack so. 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. 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. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. Teddy mcdonald carter hudson, a cia operative running from a dark. Many ex cia agents speak out about their experiences as agents and what they were required to do.
The name crack first appeared in the new york times on november 17, 1985. 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. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Kill the messenger is a 2014 american biographical crime thriller film directed by michael cuesta and written by peter landesman. The second focus of the documentary is the irancontra scandal and the cias alleged role in the crack boom of the 1980s. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum. 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.
Crack in the system, is absolutely key to understanding many of the issues we are struggling with today from the mass incarceration of men of color, to the militarization of cops and gangs, to the spread of gangsta rap music and culture, and ultimately to the fundamental corruption and hypocrisy at the core of the war on drugs. Timothy alexander guzman, silent crow news the reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Any one with a pea brain knows whites are the biggest drug addicts. It is based on the book of the same name by nick schou and the book dark alliance by gary webb, which focuses on cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking. The american crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between 1984 and 1990. Part ii from the cias dirty war in nicaragua timothy alexander guzman, silent crow news the reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. One, a docudrama produced for the big screen called kill the messenger, and the other is a documentary titled freeway. A most violent year nyc, 1981 a documentary short duration. New shows examine cias past role in latin americas drug.
The dual release of the feature film and the documentary, along with the willingness of longhesitant sources to come forward. Webb also alleged that this influx of nicaraguansupplied cocaine sparked, and significantly fueled, the widespread crack cocaine epidemic that swept through many u. In this crack in america, featurette, jeremy renner gary webb, director. If these companies are directly responsible for this scourge of death and destruction, the film. 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. Untouchable, brick city exposes how the infiltration of crack cocaine destroyed innercity neighborhoods across the country. As the documentary explains, the cias preeminence in policy circles not only hindered important narcotics investigations, but also helped upset the security of us cities, particularly the africanamerican community that was buffeted by the crack epidemic during the 1980s. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. Heres how the crack epidemic brought a city to its knees. 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. With richard stratton, ty hurley, celerino castillo iii, christopher glover. It is one of the most highly additive and destructive drugs in the world.
Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s. Go behind the scenes of a cia conspiracy in the exclusive. 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. Crips to sell crack in cincinnati in 1987 and that he sold cocaine. Usually the cias activities have harmful effects on innocent civilians in foreign countries. The courageous journalist was hounded to death for linking the crack epidemic with thenpresident ronald reagans drive to overthrow the sandinista government. In this case, the cia s activities led to the crack epidemic in americas inner cities, which caused american citizens much pain and misery. New shows examine the cias past role in latin americas.
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