Biden: End the War on Drugs, Start with Clemency

Nixon launched the “War on Drugs” 50 years ago. Since then, our country has pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into law enforcement agencies in its name. The War on Drugs has done nothing to reduce drug use rates. Instead, it has led to the over-surveillance and incarceration of millions, disproportionately Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people. Today, nearly half of the people in federal prison are there for drug offenses.

The racist war on drugs has failed. But President Biden can begin to undo its harms at the federal level right now – beginning by using his clemency powers to reduce drug incarceration.

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Message Recipients: President Biden

Biden: End the War on Drugs, Start with Clemency
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End the War on Drugs, Start with Clemency

After 50 years of Nixon's failed and racist War on Drugs, I'm urging you to be the President who finally ends it. You can start by commuting the sentences of people incarcerated for drug offenses through your executive power of clemency.

Since Nixon declared drug abuse "enemy number one" in 1971, hundreds of billions of dollars have been pumped into law enforcement agencies. This has failed to reduce drug abuse or overdose rates, and instead, led to the over-surveillance and incarceration of millions of people, disproportionately Black, Latinx, and Indigenous.

It's no wonder why ending this drug war is a rare nonpartisan issue: According to a recent ACLU and DPA poll, 83% of voters agree the War on Drugs has failed and 61% of voters support commuting the sentences of people in prison for drugs.

Please, take action now to end the racist War on Drugs and start to undo its harms on the federal level: Begin by reducing drug incarceration through clemency now.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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