human
I've been hearing a lot of talk about the "war on drugs" lately. What is it all about?
assistant
The war on drugs was started in 1971 by President Richard Nixon as part of his “War on Crime”. It was originally intended to reduce drug use and trafficking, but over time it has become a tool for law enforcement agencies to target people of color and other marginalized groups. The war has had devastating effects on communities of color, including mass incarceration, racial profiling, police brutality, and disproportionate impacts on young people of color.