They call themselves “drug war prisoners” because their lives have been gravely affected by the government’s present drug policy. This so-called “war on drugs,” which we have looked at extensively on Democracy Now, effects more than just the people incarcerated. Today we hear from the mothers, sisters and children who are the victims of low level and non-violent drug use.

Guests:

• Nora Callahan, the Executive Director of the November Coalition.
• Mary Gaines, the leader of the organization Federal Forum which is a program to assist families who have incarcerated family members. She spent eight and a half years in prison for a drug misdemeanor. Also here are her children Rakesha, 18 and Ricky, 21.
• Tamika, a 21 year old woman who is raising her brothers and sisters because her mother and other relatives are in jail.