The social justice implications of the war on drugs

The social justice implications of the war on drugs

Introduction to the Social Justice News Nexus

What are the social justice implications of the war on drugs, the drug trade across borders and in impoverished neighborhoods, the types or lack of drug treatment options? The Social Justice News Nexus, a project launched in January 2014 at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, aims to explore these questions through a mosaic of journalistic projects by a cohort of graduate student fellows and community fellows, as well as through discussions with neighborhood groups and residents. El BeiSMan showcases work from the Social Justice News Nexus. Adriana Cardona-Maguigad photographs scenes from the pipeline for drugs and drug treatment between Puerto Rico and Chicago, a project supported with a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism. Mary C. Piemonte documents the sea change in official attitudes toward the war on drugs. Young journalist Joshua Conner talks with former Washington Post crime reporter Ruben Castaneda about his new memoir about the crack epidemic in Washington D.C. and his own struggle with crack. Kari Lydersen reviews Castaneda’s memoir. And Jackie Serrato gives the view from the ground in Little Village, widely portrayed as a hub for Mexican drug cartels and local street gangs. Social Justice News Nexus projects will be released throughout the summer in various media outlets and www.sjnnchicago.org.

♦ ♦ ♦

Other links to the Social Justice News Nexus pieces:

Puerto Rico’s Drug Pipeline  

A Truce in the War on Drugs

Addiction, Journalism and Survival: A talk with Ruben Castaneda 

The View from the Ground in Little Village: Drugs and Violence

S Street Rising: Crack, Murder and Redemption in D.C. 

Land of Canaan