"Illinois didn't set out to be second only to California in the number of people imprisoned for drug offenses. It never had a goal of locking up African Americans for drug offenses at a rate higher than any other state in the nation. And it didn't seek to spend $280 million a year to incarcerate those who break drug laws.
Yet that is what happened..."
-Chicago Sun-Times
Yet that is what happened..."
-Chicago Sun-Times
Please see the screenings page for upcoming opportunities to see the film.
The Throwaway War (2009, 44 minutes) follows the emotional journeys of formerly incarcerated drug offenders as they seek to turn their lives around in Chicago. It addresses the drug epidemic in a new light: a shift from focusing on despair and blame, to personal salvation and communal cooperation. The Throwaway War provides a story of hope and redemption, and ultimately, a way forward.