Thousands of young black men are serving long prison sentences for selling cocaine a drug that was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cias army started bring it into south central in the 1980s at bargain basement prices, wrote mercury. 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. Conspiracy theories can often ring true the washington post. Dec 31, 2004 crack, the cia and black americas drug crisis. Gary webbs assertion that the cia introduced crack to black neighborhoods and those that the fbi was involved in flooding black communities with drugs were unfounded. Why do many people believe that the us government introduced. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. It was a situation where we need money for a covert operation. By nick schou, nick schou is an editor for oc weekly. Bush, and oliver north were involved in getting arms to the nicaraguan contras and they did it through the sell of cocaine to american citizens. In 1996 the agency was accused of being a crack dealer.
Its not a situation where the government or the cia sat down and said okay, lets invent crack and sell it in black neighborhoods and lets decimate black america. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. Cia brought crack, rap, guns, low riders, spinners, baggy pants, and weed into black neighborhoods. A series of expose articles in the san jose mercurynews by reporter gary webb told tales of a drug. Did the cia bring crack to black neighborhoods in the 1980s. Aug 30, 2012 in october 1998, the cia released a declassified version of hitzs twovolume report, and the cia was cleared of its alleged complicity in the spread of crackcocaine in to the innercities. For many, crack use became an obsession, dominated their lives, and.
For nearly a decade the cia spread crack cocaine in black. Is there evidence that the fbi flooded black communities. Aaron dixon, the former seattle chapter captain for the black panther party, is writing a book on the impact of crack cocaine on black communities. A commonheld belief was that the cia flooded the black community with crack so that we could do each other in. Cocaine was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cia s army brought it into southcentral in the 1980s at bargainbasement prices, wrote gary webb of the mercury news. In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. Ross became the major player in the drug scene of the late 80s and early 90s. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. Gary webbs assertion that the cia introduced crack to black neighborhoods and those that the fbi was involved in flooding black communities with drugs were unfounded, and at best massive exaggerations of otherwise well documented and ultimately selfdefeating initiatives by us intelligence services. How the cia s crack cocaine controversy destroyed journalist gary webb, will be published in october. Drugs, the black community and the american judicial system. The cia contra crack connection, 10 years later reporter gary webb was the victim of his own hyperbole, but he never got credit for what he got right. How the cia watched over the destruction of gary webb.
Through a secret program called the counter intelligence program cointelpro, there was a concerted effort to subvert the will of the people to avoid the rise of a black messiah that would mobilize the africanamerican community into a meaningful political force this documentary establishes historical perspective on the measures initiated by j. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and fake news created the myth of the crack baby. Oct 20, 2012 secret ties between cia, drugs revealed. The severelydistressed african american family in the crack. But, for black people to be able to given those welfares, the women would have to be pregnant and not. In 1996, a series in the san jose mercurynews by gary webb charged that the reaganera cia sold crack in inner cities to fund clandestine operations in central america. Aug 08, 2015 cia bought crack off of the contras and introduced it into california. 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 further alleged that cocaine was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cias army started bringing it into south central in the 1980s at bargainbasement prices.
Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt. Nov 17, 2014 nearly half of americas largest cities is onequarter black. Central intelligence agency to the introduction of crack. New docuseries aims to factcheck americas war on drugs. It was a situation where, we need money for a covert operation, the quickest way to raise it is sell cocaine, you guys go sell it. Though evidence is thin, tale of cia and drugs has a life of its own. The severelydistressed african american family in the. Numerous african american families have struggled for generations with persistent poverty, especially in the inner city. A year ago after hurricane katrina destroyed most of new orleans, kanye west awkwardly and emotionally blurted out george bush doesnt care about black people on live television, it did more than rattle mike meyers and draw the usual indignation of media talkingheads.
The cocaine that flooded in helped spark a crack explosion in urban america and provided the cash and connections needed for l. Cocaine was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cias army brought it into southcentral in the 1980s at bargainbasement prices, wrote gary webb of the mercury news. Its not a situation where the government or the cia sat down and said, okay, lets invent crack, lets sell it in black neighborhoods, lets decimate black america. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. Cia funnels drugs into poor us neighborhoods rt usa news. Crack affected many people but my adopted family was devastated.
The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. During the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack. The first article in the newspaper said that cocaine was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cias army started bringing it into south central in the 1980s at. Kill the messenger movie revisits the cia and how crack. No wonder terrorists are running wild, the cia is too busy ruining intercity blacks. In fact, the agencys central complaint, according to the document, was over the graphics that accompanied the series, which suggested a link between the cia and the crack scare, and webbs. Jun 04, 2019 crack cocaine, swept throughout the us in the 1980s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. Neighborhoods and families were severely impacted by this epidemic. 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. Drug trafficking was a much less convoluted method of skirting the congressional ban on funding the contras, and the cia s. The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine trade. For nearly a decade the cia spread crack cocaine in black neighborhoods to fund their proxi nicaraguan contra army.
Reagan did not manufacture the crack epidemic in the 80s. During the late 1980s and the early 1990s the cia was the biggest drug kingpin in the united states. 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. Sep 25, 2014 in fact, the agencys central complaint, according to the document, was over the graphics that accompanied the series, which suggested a link between the cia and the crack scare, and webbs. You can find several other examples of government staging these type of events. Urban neighborhoods are grappling with legions of homeless crack addicts. Of course, the cia made sure healthy young male didnt get jobs. Little did they know that the cia was using them as pawns in a larger scheme by allowing the more affordable drug to come into their neighborhood. How ronald reagans drug war fueled americans addiction. The first article also discussed oscar danilo blandon reyes role in the drug ring. Did the cia bring crack to black neighborhoods in the. Its not a situation where the government or the cia sat down and said, okay, lets invent crack, lets sell it in black neighborhoods, lets decimate black america, webb says. Did the government put drugs in the black community. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia.
The first article in the newspaper said that cocaine was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cia s army started bringing it into south central in the 1980s at. 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 crack epidemics impact on black communities 91. Bey refers to freeway ricky ross, the subject of freeway.
Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. Is there evidence that the fbi flooded black communities with. Wouldnt be motivated to do things, since the government was basically handing them out the essentials to survive. Its so true that in 1995 president clinton actually issued a formal apology on behalf of the us government. 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. Oct 11, 2014 while webb was also criticized for suggesting the cia intentionally devastated african american communities with crack, he defended himself saying that was not the case. The crack epidemic that once ravaged black neighborhoods didnt get the same sympathy as todays opioid epidemic. Comment removed by moderator 3 years ago 0 children. The quickest way to raise it is to sell cocaine and you guys go sell it somewhere.
While webb was also criticized for suggesting the cia intentionally devastated african american communities with crack, he defended himself saying that was not the case. Crack cocaine, swept throughout the us in the 1980s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. Mar 21, 2015 perhaps most damningly, webb wrote that crack was virtually unobtainable in the citys black neighbourhoods before members of the cias army began supplying it at rockbottom prices in. Kanye, crack cocaine and the truth the new black magazine. Mar 21, 2008 urban neighborhoods are grappling with legions of homeless crack addicts. Secret ties between cia, drugs revealed the final call. Black gangs used their profits to buy automatic weapons, sometimes from one of the cialinked drug dealers. May 02, 2017 the crack epidemic that once ravaged black neighborhoods didnt get the same sympathy as todays opioid epidemic. Central intelligence agency to the introduction of crack cocaine into black neighborhoods with drug profits.
Racist ideas distorted drug policies in reagans america. Thousands of young black men are serving long prison sentences for selling cocaine a drug that was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cia s army started bring it into south central in the 1980s at bargain basement prices, wrote mercury. While the antidrug abuse act prescribed a minimum fiveyear sentence for a dealer or user caught with five grams of crack, an amount typically handled by. The fbis war on black america top documentary films. Dec 06, 2006 cia brought crack, rap, guns, low riders, spinners, baggy pants, and weed into black neighborhoods. Thousands of young black men are serving long prison sentences for selling cocaine a drug that was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cia s army started bringing it into southcentral in the 1980s at bargainbasement prices. How the cias crackcocaine controversy destroyed journalist gary webb, will be published in october. This gave rise to gangs, tore black neighborhoods apart, and contributed to the massive international drug mafia we have today. Drug trafficking was a much less convoluted method of skirting the congressional ban on funding the contras, and the cias. 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. The cia ran secret mind control experiments on us citizens from the 1950s until 1973. Cia bought crack off of the contras and introduced it into california.
The ciacontracrack connection, 10 years later reporter gary webb was the victim of his own hyperbole, but he never got credit for what he got right. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy department of justice. Perhaps most damningly, webb wrote that crack was virtually unobtainable in the citys black neighbourhoods before members of the cias army began supplying it at rockbottom prices in. Essentially, the cia used drugs, electronics, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, verbal and sexual abuse, and torture to conduct experimental behavioral. These conditions were further strained during the 1980s and 1990s by the widespread use of crack cocaine. I heard this conspiracy that the government on purpose brought crack cocaine into black neighborhoods and started welfare so that black people wouldnt be able to progress. The cia also prevented women from getting married and using birth control. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy studies. Jan 29, 2015 the government certainly had an informant put barbiturates in fred hamptons drink before he passed out and was assassinated by the fbi. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum.
How ronald reagans drug war fueled americans addiction to. Apr 25, 2007 it further alleged that cocaine was virtually unobtainable in black neighborhoods before members of the cia s army started bringing it into south central in the 1980s at bargainbasement prices. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and.