Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL) Copyright: 2006 The Journal Standard Contact: http://www.journalstandard.com/forms/letters/ Website: http://www.journalstandard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182 Author: Kirk Muse WAR ON DRUGS HASN'T BEEN FOUGHT FAIRLY In 1963, when Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, we had about 200,000 total prisoners. Today, largely because of our war on drugs policies, the United States has more than 2.2 million prisoners. It's obvious that the so-called war on drugs is actually a war on (politically selected) people - and black people are those politically selected people. Even though blacks and whites use illegal drugs at about the same rate, blacks are 13 times more likely to go to jail or prison for a so-called drug crime. Where is the outrage? Where is the outrage from the black community? Where is outrage from the so-called black leaders? Where is the outrage from America? Where is the outrage from the rest of the world? The whips and chains of slavery have been replaced with prison cages. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman