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Anthony Papa
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Anthony Papa is an artist, writer, freedom fighter, noted advocate against the war on drugs and co-founder of the Mothers of the New York Disappeared. Mr. Papa’s stinging opinion pieces about the drug war have appeared in news sources across the country. He is a frequent public speaker and college lecturer on his art and criminal justice issues. Currently he is Manager of Media Relations for the Drug Policy Alliance.

Mr. Papa is the author of 15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom (2004), a memoir about his experience of being sentenced to state prison for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense under New York’s draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws. The book is optioned and set to become a feature film. Papa has appeared in film and TV such as "Breaking the Taboo", Lock Down USA and Sixty Spins Around the Sun and HBO's "OZ". He has been interviewed by a wide range of national print and broadcast media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, National Public Radio, “Democracy Now,” Court TV, “Extra,” C-Span, WPIX, RNN among others. His art has been exhibited widely from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York to many cultural centers and he has appeared on nationally syndicated talk shows such as “Charles Grodin,” “Geraldo Rivera,” and “Catherine Crier Live.”

Blog Entries by Anthony Papa

40th Anniversary of the Rockefeller Drug Laws: A Window of Opportunity For a Better Path

(27) Comments | Posted May 7, 2013 | 12:46 PM

In 1973, two years after President Nixon declared a "war on drugs," New York Governor Rockefeller passed the toughest drug laws in the nation. It was then that the Rockefeller Drug Laws were created, demanding mandatory sentences for people convicted of drug law violations, while removing the Judge's power to...

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Cameron Douglas Denied Justice: Extra 54 Months for His Drug Addiction

(43) Comments | Posted April 16, 2013 | 1:54 PM

On April 15, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied Cameron Douglas's appeal that challenged his additional 54-month sentence for possessing drugs while imprisoned. The federal appeals court found that the federal trial court had not abused its discretion in sentencing Mr. Douglas to the increased prison time.

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Brazil Should Learn From the United States' Drug War Mistakes

(5) Comments | Posted March 18, 2013 | 6:22 PM

The Brazilian Congress is debating a controversial bill, authored by Rep. Osmar Terra (PMDB-RS), which among other setbacks proposes increasing the minimum penalty required from 5 to 8 years for drug-related crimes. History has shown that this is the wrong way to go -- and for evidence of this, it's...

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Exonerated After 23 Years: Helped by Another Exonerated Victim

(12) Comments | Posted February 21, 2013 | 11:22 AM

As an activist, I receive many requests for help from people who suffer from injustice or are imprisoned. Recouping lost freedom is the ultimate goal, but it is rarely achieved. However, once in a blue moon, through determination and help from others, this goal is met.

Last year, a...

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My Valentine's Day: 28 Years Ago Today I Was Sentenced to 15-to-Life

(39) Comments | Posted February 14, 2013 | 4:04 PM

Today I heard a piece on National Public Radio about the Rockefeller drug laws. It struck me hard -- real hard. That's because 28 years ago today, on Valentine's Day, I blew trial and was sentenced to 15 years to life under the Rockefeller drug laws.

I...

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New York Celebs Love Da Marino Restaurant

(2) Comments | Posted January 22, 2013 | 3:17 PM

New York is full of fun places to have a good time. One of the hottest places around is Da Marinos, an Italian restaurant/piano bar that sits smack in the middle of the theatre district of Times Square section of Manhattan. Da Marinos has a rich history of...

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Treating Those in Pain Without Narcotics

(1) Comments | Posted December 5, 2012 | 9:40 AM

Dr. David Levine is a chiropractor, who specializes in the treatment of chronic and severe pain. In addition to his successful practice he also donates his time and expertise to those less fortunate. He has a special interest in United States military personnel suffering with acute and chronic pain, as...

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Help Feed the Hungry for Thanksgiving: Project Oatmeal

(0) Comments | Posted November 20, 2012 | 4:46 PM

With the Thanksgiving holiday season approaching, many New Yorkers will not have food on their table. What can we do about this? I called my friend Noah Lukeman of Project Oatmeal and he pointed out to me that for only 15 cents a day, we can put a...

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Former Prisoners Can Vote!

(10) Comments | Posted November 6, 2012 | 12:14 PM

The right to vote is an important part of being an American citizen. Despite this fact, several state legislatures have introduced bills that would make it harder for you to exercise your right to vote. This effort is unprecedented in scope, well-coordinated, and carefully targeted. African-Americans, Latinos, Asian...

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Richard Branson and Deepak Chopra Co-Chair re:FORM Art Benefit at C24 Gallery

(1) Comments | Posted October 29, 2012 | 9:05 AM

On Friday November 2 The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to the drug war grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights, will host its fifth re:FORM, art auction and cocktail benefit at C24 Gallery in New York...

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Is the Best Response to the Mexican Drug War Laughter?

(15) Comments | Posted October 17, 2012 | 12:23 PM

Is the Drug War something to laugh at? The team at Narco News TV, under the helm of publisher Al Giordano, have been insisting for years that if we laugh at the war, we just might be able to weaken it and then defeat it. Their most recent...

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Jerry Sandusky: What He Can Expect in Prison

(0) Comments | Posted October 10, 2012 | 4:19 PM

Before being found guilty of 45 counts of child sex abuse and then being sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, Jerry Sandusky astounded the nation. He had the audacity to make an unapologetic statement that was broadcast on the Penn State College radio station, accusing his...

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Pense Livre: A New Drug Policy Initiative to be Launched in Brazil

(12) Comments | Posted September 18, 2012 | 4:15 AM

On September 18 in Sao Paulo Brazil a new network called "Pense Livre" (Think Free) is being launched. Pense Livre will assemble more than 60 Brazilian leaders to discuss the best practices to reduce damage and violence associated with drug policy.

The Pense Livre Network will aim to...

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Mexico/US Caravan to Arrive in New York Calling for the End of Failed Drug War

(2) Comments | Posted September 5, 2012 | 5:11 PM

On Thursday, September 6, the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity will arrive in New York City on its voyage across the United States calling for an end to the failed drug war that has left more than 60,000 dead in Mexico in the last...

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Yula Beeri and the Hive NYC

(1) Comments | Posted August 17, 2012 | 11:38 AM

Angels do live in Brooklyn. And one of them is Yula Beeri, an Israeli composer, musician and performer who began honing her talents when she was three years old. Influenced by Kate Bush and The Police, she came from Tel Aviv 10 years ago and has been part...

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Michael Phelps: Greatest Olympian Ever (Who Also Happened to Smoke Pot)

(41) Comments | Posted August 3, 2012 | 11:55 AM

News outlets across the world are reporting about Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps' feat of breaking the record for the most medals ever won by an Olympian. On Thursday night he won his record twentieth career Olympic medal. But the road to being the world's greatest swimmer did not...

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The Stinging Comedy of "Gringoyo" Cuts Away the Twisted Logic of the Mexican Drug War

(0) Comments | Posted August 2, 2012 | 6:43 PM

Imagine a shot-by-shot recreation of the classic Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night set not in Liverpool, but on the black and white streets of Mexico City. A quartet of four "fabulously dressed" men in black reminiscent of John, Paul, George and Ringo are being chased by dozens of determinedly...

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D.A. Cy Vance: Drop the Case Against Activist Jazz Hayden

(0) Comments | Posted July 25, 2012 | 4:10 PM

Joseph "Jazz:" Hayden is a community activist from Harlem whose main goal was to expose the NYPD's stop and frisk campaign. The controversial practice has impacted more than four million residents of New York since it was initiated and raised serious concerns over racial profiling, illegal...

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Bill-bods: Using Hot Bodies to Advertise Your Brand (NSFW)

(8) Comments | Posted July 17, 2012 | 3:50 PM

Traditionally, advertising on a billboard was the way to go to get your message out to the masses. But now, a new and unique way of branding is on the rise, using the human body as a billboard. According to Dareh Gregorian of the NY Post, Margarita Dominguez,...

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Ex-Argentinian Dictators Convicted of Stealing Babies

(0) Comments | Posted July 6, 2012 | 2:24 PM

Argentina's dirty war took a step toward closure this week when two former Argentine dictators were found guilty of a plan to steal babies from prisoners who were then kidnapped, tortured and killed.

As reported by the Associated Press, Jorge Rafael Videla...

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