The latest series of SA Rebel Films concluded on Friday evening, November 8, with the screening of The House I Live In. The powerful documentary depicts how in the past 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests, made America the world’s largest jailer, and destroyed impoverished communities at home and abroad. The war on drugs has never been about drugs. From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America’s criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.
Forty-two people attended the screening. Most stayed for the lively and impassioned discussion, which focussed on the iniquities of the drug and prison industry in Canada.
Guest speaker Raffi Balian, a survivor of six years in prisons in the Kingston area, started the COUNTERfit Harm Reduction Program in 1998, the first drug-user-driven program in Canada, which won several awards, including an Award For Excellence in Primary Health Care. Today Balian works at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre.
Here is the video of his speech and the discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bvVBEZCzAU
The next on our calendar is the Education for Activists Conference, November 15-16 at OISE 2-214, featuring special guest speaker Glen Ford, editor of Black Agenda Report, and U.S. radio host and commentator.
Tickets are $10 for the four weekend sessions, or $5 per session. For more information call: 647-986-1917
